Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Atlantic Watershed, ca. 250 to 800 CE. An exceptional Costa Rican jadeite pendant, the gorgeous pale green jadeite stone expertly string cut with intricate representations of two toothy crocodiles in profile with openwork mouths, meticulously incised teeth, and scaly armoured dorsal skin. In addition to the brilliant technique displayed on this piece, the iconography was very significant in the Pre-Columbian world. The crocodile being the oldest (approximately 55 million years old) of the Crocodilia class which also included alligators and caymans was understood as a crocodilian earth monster and is oftentimes shown giving rise to what was known as the World Tree. Partial to a watery habitat, the crocodile was also a metaphor for fertility in Pre-Columbian mythology. Quite a spectacular form! Double perforations through top for suspension. Custom, museum-quality stand. Size: 4" L (10.2 cm); 2.875" H (10.2 cm x 7.3 cm) on stand

Jade was regarded as a sacred material by the ancient peoples of Costa Rica, believe it or not, held in higher esteem than gold. The indigenous believed that jade symbolized a vital life force that sustains us all, as the color green connotes that of verdant plant life. Even more specifically, jade was believed to symbolize the growing maize plant, a staple of the Pre-Columbian diet. Scholars have also suggested that jade signified water. Regardless of which meaning one subscribes to, it seems clear that jade represented the absolute essence of life itself in the Pre-Columbian world.

Provenance: Ex-Private Jones collection, Kentucky

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