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THBLot of 2, Olmec Jadeite Celt & Maya Greenstone Earspool
Lot 10
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$800 - $1,200
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Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 18, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-03-18 10:00:00
2021-03-18 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Oceanic
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-tribal-oceanic-6520
Featuring Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, much more. All items have been legally acquired and are legal to sell. Convenient in-house shipping. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Featuring Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, much more. All items have been legally acquired and are legal to sell. Convenient in-house shipping. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (323)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE; Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A stunning pair of carved-stone examples from the ancient peoples of southern Mexico and Guatemala. Created by the Olmec people, the first is a jadeite celt; an ancient tool, shaped like an axe head with a rounded blade and slightly incurved sides that form a straight edge. The surface is delightfully smooth in texture, and the verso presents a raised vertical axis; formed over many hours using painstaking techniques by master artisans. The lovely teal and rich deep green hues of the jade made this a desirable piece, while an annular drill hole continues to allow it to be suspended and worn as a pendant. Alternatively, the second is a striking greenstone earspool, hand-carved in characteristic open form by the ancient Maya. The circular accessory boasts a mottled celadon and sage green surface with creamy beige and hunter green inclusions, as well as a rounded interior gap and a convex face that tapers to thin peripheries. Size of largest: 2.5" in diameter (6.4 cm); Size of display box: 5.25" W x 6.25" H (13.3 cm x 15.9 cm)
Ear spools are often shown in profile in Maya art, usually with a bead or serpent emerging from that central hollow plug; this is interpreted to be a symbolic supernatural passageway for the breath of the soul to travel through.
Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s pinpointed the source of what is colloquially referred to as "Olmec blue" jade in the lowland Motagua River near the modern-day border of Guatemala and Honduras; stone from this source was carved and traded widely throughout early Mesoamerica. Jade and greenstone were revered by the Maya not only for their beauty, but also because they held spiritual power - these stones were believed to be the embodiment of the wind and the "breath" that formed the Maya soul. Many scholars have argued that the demand for jade contributed to the rise of long-distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica.
Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired from 1950s to 1960s
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#162405Nicks/chips to peripheries of both and both versos show expected surface wear with scratches and abrasions. Otherwise, very nice with lovely earthen deposits.Condition
- Shipping Info
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All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
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