Pre-Columbian, Venezuela, Trujillo, ca. 1000 CE. A large striking bat pectoral, carefully carved from greenstone presenting rich verdant hues with seafoam green and creamy white inclusions - its form comprised of large outspread, rounded wings and a trapezoidal head. This exquisite piece captures the impressive wingspan of this creature as he navigates the darkness of night. A beautiful piece, special for its symbolism as well as its aesthetic qualities. Size: 8.125" W x 3.7" H (20.6 cm x 9.4 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.
In the Pre-Columbian world, bats have traditionally been associated with rain and fertility. These nocturnal creatures who swoop and dart in the night sky symbolize the dark thunderclouds of rainstorms and are closely connected with maize production and by extension fertility of humankind. In Venezuela, most bat species have been found in caves in the northeastern Andes, and the western and central parts of the Caribbean mountains.
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Eugene Lions collection, Geneve, Switzerland, collected 1960-2000
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#159515
Condition
Professionally repaired from two large pieces with a break line down the center that is difficult to discern. Minute nicks to peripheries and slight surface wear. Otherwise, intact and superb! Collection label on the verso.