An Olmec Jade Were-jaguar Mask Amulet, Middle Preclassic Period, ca 900 - 600 BCE

A finely carved jade amulet in the form of a stylized mask representing the were-jaguar, a central figure in Olmec cosmology often associated with fertility, rain, and ruler-ship. The compact face is executed with precision, featuring deeply cut almond-shaped eyes, a cleft brow, and prominent downturned lips that convey the characteristic feline-human hybrid expression. The mottled green jade displays slight translucency and a soft polish consistent with ancient lapidary techniques.

The Olmec civilization, often regarded as the mother culture of Mesoamerica, flourished along Mexico’s Gulf Coast between 1500 and 600 BCE. Their art and belief system profoundly influenced later societies, including the Maya and Aztec. The were-jaguar motif, embodying the union of human and animal, life and death, and the natural and supernatural, served as a symbol of transformation and divine authority.

Jade was the Olmecs’ most prized material, valued for its green hue and toughness, and worn by rulers and shamans as protective amulets, believed to channel the jaguar’s spiritual power. In burial contexts, they safeguarded the deceased on the passage to the afterlife.

Medium:  Jade, gold

Dimensions:  Width: 1 3/4 inches (4.4 cm), Height: 1 1/8 inches (3.17 cm)

Condition:  The amulet is in near-perfect condition, with one small chip to the back edge that does not detract. It has been set as a pendant on a 14K yellow gold chain.

Provenance:  Gigi Vivian Collection, California, acquired from the New York trade.

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