{"title":"Pre-Columbian Art","description":"\u003cp\u003eArt from the Americas\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"pj2006","title":"A large Peruvian Crystal Drop Pendant, Chancay Period, ca. 1000 - 1470 BCE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCarved from beautiful clear crystal quartz, this large pendant is teardrop-shaped, with a hole drilled through the top for suspension and dusted in red cinnabar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 2 inches (5.08 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eIntact and in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003e Private Maryland collection, acquired in the 1960s and then by descent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sands of Time Ancient Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32660600127559,"sku":"PJ2006","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2006.jpg?v=1607277518"},{"product_id":"px2101","title":"A Costa Rican Marble Bird Mace Head, Greater Nicoya, Period IV, ca. 300 - 500 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCarved from smooth white marble, the round body with a stylized bird head featuring an elongated beak gently carved to indicate a mouth and a raised double head crest along the top of the head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUsed as a symbolic object rather than a functional one, mace heads of this type occur in many different materials, sizes, and subjects. Found in most high-status graves, mace heads most probably served as identifiers of the person's clan or family through a corresponding animal, human, or geometric shape. There is an extraordinary variety of shapes -- birds, bats, coyotes, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehuman faces, \u003c\/span\u003eowls, snakes, monkeys, and basket weaves, to name a few. While each piece is unique and stylized in its own way, there is a similarity in shape that would have allowed each member of the clan to be easily recognized. Graves with owl-shaped mace heads, for example, would be easily recognizable as members of the owl clan.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStone-Miller, Rebecca, \u003cem\u003eSeeing with New Eyes: Highlights of the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Atlanta\u003c\/em\u003e: Emory University (2002), pp 144-145.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 2 1\/4 inches\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003e(5.5 cm), Length: 2 7\/8 inches (7.3 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eWith several hairline cracks along the surface, overall intact and in good condition. Custom mounted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate NY collection. Previously in the collection of Marianne and Robert Huber, Dixon, Illinois.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39295266914375,"sku":"PX2101","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PX2101_5.jpg?v=1618939403"},{"product_id":"ps2101","title":"A fine Maya Stone Vulture Hacha, ca. 500 - 800 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMesoamerican ballplayers wore protective gear called hachas, palmas, and yokes to protect their hips and abdomens from the impact of the game’s solid rubber ball. In painting and sculpture, the yoke is shown worn around the player’s hips, the palma or hacha attached at the front. Those used during active play were most likely made of wood or some other light material; stone versions such as this one were worn, if at all, during ballgame-related rituals, or placed on display. Given the distinctive design of each hacha, both those worn and those carved in stone may have served to identify teams or individuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe name hacha refers to the axe-like form of many examples(hacha is Spanish for axe), including the one seen here.  The form of these pieces is unique, with the back slightly wider than the front where the sides converge to a sharp point. Facial features and other details are carved in low relief, each side a mirror image of the other.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eHere, the artist depicted a detailed rendering of the subject. Each head feather is carefully rendered individually, with increased depth of relief from front to back, mimicking how vulture feathers overlap in nature. The rounded form of the cheeks, the long curved open beak with the drilled nostril, and large recessed eye suggest the alertness of the bird as it spies and focuses on its prey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 11 1\/4 inches (28.5 cm), Width: 8 inches (20.32 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003e Excellent surface patina with minor loss to the lower base corner, and other small indicative signs of use that do not detract, otherwise the piece is intact and in excellent condition overall and mounted on a custom-built museum quality stand. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate Florida physician's collection, acquired from George Martinez, December 2003, who acquired it in the 1950s. With a copy of the provenance letter from George Martinez.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39341683212359,"sku":"PS2101","price":12000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PS2101_3.jpg?v=1623342924"},{"product_id":"pj1903","title":"A Tairona Quartzite and Chalcedony Bead Necklace, ca. 800 - 1500 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis wonderful statement necklace features a central Tairona quartzite bead, superbly handcrafted and balanced by a long crystal tube bead on either side.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe tubes are flanked by 14K gold beads and the whole composition strung as a necklace with modern natural pink\/green chalcedony semi-precious beads, polished to a smooth finish. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eDrop length: 13 inches (33 cm), overall length 27.5 inches (70 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eThe beads are all intact and in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate Florida collection, acquired in the early 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39343857893447,"sku":"PJ1903","price":1950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ1903_4.jpg?v=1623341979"},{"product_id":"pj2101","title":"A Narino Hammered Gold Pectoral, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"For several centuries large chest-sized pectorals of gold were made in ancient Colombia in different styles. Many were plain--virtually without decoration of any sort--relying completely on shape and surface for presence and character. This circular pectoral, of heavy sheet gold, displays a simple design of six relief geometric elements and an inner and outer border of raised dots, thus providing a visually successful complement to the overall elegant simplicity.  Double perforations at the top for attachment. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e A minor 3\/8-inch linear perforation in the lower center and a few crease lines, otherwise intact and in very good condition overall.  Custom framed using museum-quality conservation materials, this object can be displayed using either an easel or on a wall.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Width: 5 1\/8 inches (13 cm), Weight:  24 grams\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Private NYC collection, acquired between 1950s-1980s, collection number recorded as: FM 841, 46.","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39405837877319,"sku":"PJ2101","price":8500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2101_3.jpg?v=1780962702"},{"product_id":"an-impressive-andesite-human-trophy-head-costa-rica-ca-1000-1500-ce","title":"An impressive Andesite Human Trophy Head, Costa Rica, ca. 1000 - 1500 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eDisembodied human heads are ubiquitous in the Pre-Columbian iconography of Costa Rica and neighboring areas of Panama. Accounts make it clear that indigenous peoples practiced taking and displaying human heads as trophies. In this volcanic stone example, the closed eyes and slack mouth suggest death, while the close-fitting cap of geometric design may be of fiber as the form suggests twisted cords or a rattan-like material. It was thought that taking trophy heads was the direct result of warfare undertaken by warriors over conflicts about territory, material resources and\/or leadership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, there was another significant dimension to warfare—the magical and the supernatural, whereby decapitation may have been viewed as a necessary evil for combating the adverse effects of sorcery (Hoopes 2007). Usekars (wizards) were powerful religious practitioners who defended their communities against sorcery and were themselves capable of casting harmful spells. As late as the nineteenth century, the Bribri usekars of eastern Costa Rica organized revenge-motivated raiding parties to kill and decapitate other sorcerers. However decapitation occurred, the prevalence of severed heads in ancient Costa Rican art indeed indicates particular beliefs regarding the potency of the head, diminishing the vitality of the individual's larger family, and increasing that of the head-taker.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ecf: Hoopes, John W. “Sorcery and the Taking of Trophy Heads in Ancient Costa Rica.” INTERDISCIPLINARY CONTRIBUTIONS TO ARCHAEOLOGY, pp. 444–480., doi:10.1007\/978-0-387-48303-0_17. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eIntact and in excellent condition overall.  The marble display base is included with this object.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Length: 4 1\/2 inches (11.5 cm)\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mirtha Virginia de Perea (1929 - 2019) private collection of Costa Rican art. Mrs. de Perea spent her entire 48-year career with the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, achieving the rank of Cultural Minister-Counselor and Consul after having started as a secretary. She was a devoted patron of the arts, promoting numerous local artists and sponsoring many cultural events throughout her career. She also amassed an impressive collection of Latin American art. After retiring in 1999, she became a US citizen and continued her support of the arts through her membership in the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera and other local groups.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mirtha V. Perea","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39473501274183,"sku":"PS2105","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PS2105_2.jpg?v=1631203000"},{"product_id":"pj2118","title":"A Tairona Quartzite and Emerald Bead Necklace, ca. 500 - 1200 CE","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003eFeaturing twelve Tairona quartzite tube beads, superbly handcrafted and polished to a smooth finish, balanced by sparkling, faceted emerald beads of a later date, restrung to form a wonderful statement necklace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eLength: 32 inches (81.28 cm)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eCondition: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe beads are all intact and in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate Florida collection, acquired in the early 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39516660465735,"sku":"PJ2118","price":995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2118_3.jpg?v=1635523141"},{"product_id":"pj2117","title":"A rare set of Chimu Silver Roundel Medallions, Early Intermediate\/Middle Horizon, ca. 500 CE","description":"Silver, associated with the nighttime world of the moon and stars, was also linked with the world of the dead. In the Andean region, the world of the dead was identified with both the ocean and the dark depths of the humid earth. In other words, life began and ended in water. These complex symbolic associations made silver the perfect material for the manufacture of personal adornments with a readily apparent ceremonial and funerary function. Objects made from gold, silver, and copper signified power, as their color, luster, and sound were considered divine. In societies like Chimú, silver was used in the attire of the nobility. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eObjects such as this extraordinary necklace accompanied members of the Chimu aristocracy to their graves and served as an emblem of their status. It comprises a set of fifteen matching silver roundel medallions, depicting a crouching deer deity, wearing a large crescent headdress, each enhanced further by the fine openwork design. Deer were associated with deities, sacrifice, rituals of the hunt, and particularly regeneration of the sun. \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e One has a minor edge dent, otherwise all are intact and in excellent condition overall. Double perforations on both sides for stringing.  Restrung and presented on custom mount constructed to museum standards. Rare to find this number of matching examples in such excellent condition.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medallion diameter: 1 1\/2 inches (3.5 cm)\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Andre Emmerich Gallery, NYC; Edward Merrin Gallery, Inc., NYC, acquired in the 1970s, thereafter private NYC collection.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAndré Emmerich (1924 – 2007) was a German-born American gallerist who specialized in the color field school and pre-Columbian art while also taking on artists such as David Hockney and John D. Graham. After graduating from Oberlin College and working as a writer, he opened his gallery in 1954, specializing in leading artists working in a wide variety of styles including Abstract Expressionism, Op Art, Color field painting, Hard-edge painting, Lyrical Abstraction, Minimal Art, Pop Art and Realism, among other movements. He also specialized in and organized important exhibitions of pre-Columbian art, writing two acclaimed books, \"Art Before Columbus\" (1963) and \"Sweat of the Sun and Tears of the Moon: Gold and Silver in Pre-Columbian Art\" (1965).","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39619671916615,"sku":"PJ2117","price":17500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2117_3.jpg?v=1648832750"},{"product_id":"pa2104","title":"A Colima Spondylus Shell Crocodile Amulet\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eEarly Classic Period, ca. 200 BCE - 200 CE\u003c\/em\u003e","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003eCarved within the natural curvature of the shell, the crocodile crouches on bent limbs, its head in profile with an elongated spout, a turquoise inlay is utilized for the eye, and another placed at the edge of the mouth, that contrasts beautifully with the orange-yellow shade of the shell.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003eCrocodiles were associated with fertility, rebirth, and the renewal of seasonal and calendrical cycles.\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eLength: 2 7\/8 inches (7.3 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eCondition: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eLoss to the back portion of the amulet. Custom mounted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\" class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e  Joel Malter private collection, assembled in the 1980s, thereafter a private Canadian collection, acquired from the trade in 2009.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Richards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39680300220487,"sku":"PA2104","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PA2104_1.jpg?v=1654104167"},{"product_id":"pp2124","title":"A large Colima Redware Saucer Olla\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eca. 100 BCE - 250 CE\u003c\/em\u003e","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Colima culture flourished on the Pacific coast of Mexico from about 200 BCE to 300 CE, and their ceramics are highly regarded as sculptural works portraying motion, vitality, and dynamism.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThis large, and impressive redware pottery olla is such an example.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eIn the form of a large, perfect saucer, with a wide mouth and a flared lip, the vessel was burnished before firing so the surface is highly polished.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe symmetry and thin walls of the clay body are remarkable in the absence of a potter's wheel.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eDiameter: 12 inches (30.5 cm), Height: 6 inches (15.2 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eScattered areas of mineral deposits on the surface. A small original piece reattached to the lip, with light cosmetic painting over the break line. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe olla is otherwise intact, and in excellent condition overall.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e   A large and impressive piece.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eDr. David Harner private collection, Arkansas, 1950s-1960s, thereafter a private Nevada collection.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  On loan to the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, UNLV, early 2000s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDr. David Harner amassed a large collection of Pre-Columbian art, primarily from West Mexico, in the 1950s and 1960s. He authenticated objects for Tom Gilcrease, founder of the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, and in the 1970s made extensive donations of pre-Columbian and Native American ceramics to the Gilcrease Museum. Dr. Harner was pictured in Who’s Who in Indian Relics, second edition, (1968).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39680318537799,"sku":"PP2124","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PP2124_2.jpg?v=1654104953"},{"product_id":"pj2133","title":"A Moche-Chimu Silver Sheet Bird Pendant\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eca. 750 - 1000 CE\u003c\/em\u003e","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMasterfully crafted from sheet silver, the small bird pendant features a head with a triangular beak and pronounced eyes, wings tucked and extending behind the body, outstretched feet with talons, and wedge-shaped tail, a small suspension loop with remnants of ancient cord between the wings. The body of the bird is formed from two separate sheets soldered together that open at the tail, cleverly forming a small pair of tweezers. In ancient Peru, tweezers were often cast into elaborate forms such as shells, human figures, animals, and birds as symbols of status and power.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eLength: 1 3\/4 inches (4.44 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCondition: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eIntact and in excellent condition overall. Custom mounted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eJoel Malter private collection, assembled in the 1980s, thereafter a private Canadian collection, acquired from the trade in 2007.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Richards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":39709590290503,"sku":"PJ2133","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2133_2.jpg?v=1657215896"},{"product_id":"a-superb-moche-chimu-silvered-pectoral-ca-800-1250-ce","title":"A superb Moche-Chimu Silvered Pectoral, ca. 800 - 1250 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eFinely wrought pectorals (chest ornaments) have been excavated at Chimu sites, and Moche ceramic vessels depict dignitaries wearing such collars.  This superb example comprises thirteen large silvered-copper pendants of long tapered forms, each decorated with a repousse head of a chief wearing earspools and a large crescent-form headdress.  Every one of the matching pendants is perforated through the top and bottom edges for suspension. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pectoral’s bimetallic composition bears testament to the metallurgical and mechanical achievements of the Chimu artists.  Joining silver to copper required expert knowledge of alloys, melting temperatures, welding techniques, and specialized construction methods.  In nature, silver is not easily found in its pure metallic state, so great skill and technical knowledge is required for its processing.  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eIn Andean cosmology, gold and silver were considered to be divine so such a collar would have underscored the wearer’s control over resources, from the imported materials to the labor needed to create this fine work, and featured, no doubt, as part of the attire for an ancient Peruvian leader.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Eight have minor imperfections, five with larger losses that do not detract. Overall, the pectoral is in very good condition and presented on an outstanding museum quality custom mount.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Each pendant length: 4 inches (10.16 cm), Width: 1 5\/8 inches at the widest point (4.12 cm)\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Edward H. Merrin Gallery Inc., NYC., acquired from Andre Emmerich, NYC, 1960s - 1970s.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAndre Emmerich (1924 – 2007) was a German-born American gallerist who specialized in the color field school and pre-Columbian art while also taking on artists such as David Hockney and John D. Graham. After graduating from Oberlin College and working as a writer, he opened his gallery in 1954, specializing in leading artists working in a wide variety of styles including Abstract Expressionism, Op Art, Color field painting, Hard-edge painting, Lyrical Abstraction, Minimal Art, Pop Art and Realism, among other movements. He also specialized in and organized important exhibitions of pre-Columbian art, writing two acclaimed books, \"Art Before Columbus\" (1963) and \"Sweat of the Sun and Tears of the Moon: Gold and Silver in Pre-Columbian Art\" (1965).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43734323200303,"sku":"PJ2116","price":15000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2116.jpg?v=1668006585"},{"product_id":"a-large-sinu-gold-collar-necklace-ca-500-1000-ce","title":"A Superb Sinu Gold Pectoral Necklace, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003ePectorals represent a monumental expression of Sinú art and a fundamental component of the ceremonial assemblage displayed by elite men and women. Important Sinu people bedecked themselves in assemblages of gold for adornment and to display insignia - both living and dead, regardless of gender. Gold was intended to project their divine ancestry, elite status, power, and wealth, in this world and the afterlife.  Being richly attired in gold, a material of spiritual essence and efficacy was a vehicle for metaphysical transformation and shamanic metamorphosis.   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis exquisite kidney-shaped pectoral, made of cast gold that was subsequently hammered and burnished to produce a smooth surface, is a superlative illustration of the workings of artistic ingenuity within traditional Sinú formats. The adornment has two small holes on either side for threading a cord or necklace. In Sinú burial contexts, pectorals are frequently found laid over the body of the deceased rather than draped around the neck. Displaying remarkable solidity and heaviness, it features a lustrous satin finish, which was achieved by applying plant acids to the surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ecf: Bernstein, David. The Golden Treasure of the Sinu: Goldwork from Ancient Colombia (p. 13). Kindle Edition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Intact and in excellent condition overall, presented on museum-quality custom mount.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e: Width: 9 inches (22.86 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Private NYC collection, acquired 1950s-1980s, collection # FM776, 50.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44097112932655,"sku":"PJ2102","price":19950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/PJ2102.jpg?v=1669645693"},{"product_id":"pp2116","title":"A Moche Stirrup Bottle with a Seated Man, ca. 200 - 400 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis splendid red-brown ceramic stirrup bottle is finely rendered \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eby its artisan creator in the form of a man sitting with knees to chest and arms wrapped around his knees, his head turned slightly to the right, with long straight hair, wide eyes, bushy eyebrows, beaked nose, and large ears, wearing a striped poncho with his feet peeking out beneath, a stirrup spout attached at the back\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003eWell before the rise of the Inca state in the fifteenth century, potters on Peru’s north coast produced great numbers of ceramic bottles in the shapes of humans, animals, plants, and imaginative combinations of these in the ceramic workshops associated with ritual centers between the Nepeña River in the south and the Piura Valley in the north. Many of these are notable for their descriptive accuracy, though we would not designate them as \u003cimg\u003eportraits.  However, for a few centuries in the mid-first millennium CE, artists of the Moche cultures excelled at the creation of “portrait vessels,” so-called for their striking apparent resemblance to specific individuals.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThese vessels could take the form of a head or of a full body, as seen here, and were shaped into bowls, jars, or, most commonly, bottles. Many of these have a spout in the shape of a stirrup, a favored form for ritual vessels on the north coast of Peru for about 2,500 years, from at least the beginning of the first millennium BCE through the early colonial period. It is unclear what these vessels once contained, if anything, although it is commonly assumed that they were used to hold chicha, a type of maize beer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eRef: Joanne Pillsbury. “Moche Portrait Vessels.” In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/toah\/hd\/mphv\/hd_mphv.htm (September 2021)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 7 inches (17.7 cm) Width: 6 1\/4 inches (15.87 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eThe left foot is reattached, and a chip is on top of the left ear. With areas of surface deposits, overall intact and in good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate collection of Alan C. Lapiner (1933-1975), New York, to Veracruzana Inc, NYC in the 1960s. Thereafter Edward H. Merrin Gallery, 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sands of Time Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44368946168111,"sku":"PP2116","price":3950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2116.jpg?v=1774065168"},{"product_id":"pt2201","title":"A Colima Seated Shaman Figure, ca. 100 BCE - 250 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCovered in a two-toned red-brown slip, a seated male shaman figure resting both hands on his splayed legs, his head facing forward with incised almond-shaped eyes, a long nose, slashed mouth,\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eand incised ear holes, wearing an incised headband with chin strap, wrapped around a central shaman’s horn, and incised loincloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe horn suggests figures such as these may be shaman figures communicating between the living and the dead, although they may also be the tips of conch shells worn to signify rulership.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eMany such figures were placed in tombs as guardians and those with aggressive postures were protectors against unwanted visitors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCf: Mary Ellen Miller, The Art of Mesoamerica: From Olmec to Aztec, Fourth Edition London: Thames and Hudson (2006)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 13 1\/2 inches (34.29 cm), Width: 8 inches (20.32 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eScattered mineral deposits on the surface. Intact and in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/strong\u003eM. Kalman private collection, Los Angeles, California, acquired in the early 1980s, thereafter private New England collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44910348566831,"sku":"PT2201","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/Colima.png?v=1774056471"},{"product_id":"pj2135","title":"A fine silver Chimu-Inca Pendant\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003e ca. 1300 - 1450 CE\u003c\/em\u003e","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMolded in repousse from hammered sheets of silver, this pendant features a human-avian head. The bird-man motif is seen throughout ancient Peru; common attributes include large ovoid eyes, a beak-like nose, and a protruding headdress that mimics an avian crest, as can be seen in this example. A small elongated suspension loop at the top of the headdress indicates this piece was strung for wearing.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn ancient Peru, gold, silver, weavings, and seashells such as Spondylus were viewed with equal importance. Leaders were adorned with a wide variety of jewelry and decorative elements made from gold, silver, copper, and a mix of alloys. During the height of the Chimú Empire, from the 12th to the 15th century, metalworking reached its greatest level of technological sophistication. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Intact and in excellent condition overall for an object of this date and type, without any significant damage, dents or cracks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e: Height: 1 1\/2 inches (3.8 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: ex Lorenzo Gordon Fritz Collection, La Paz, Bolivia, thereafter private Canadian collection, acquired in 2008.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Michael Richards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45637815533871,"sku":"PJ2135","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2135.jpg?v=1688247311"},{"product_id":"pp2117","title":"A Large Carchi Decorated Amphora, ca. 800 - 1000 CE","description":"A large storage jar with a flat bottom, cylindrical neck, and flared rim, the vessel is decorated with a geometric motif in colors representing life for this culture: creamy yellow for the abundance of the sun, black for the wise and silent night, and red for life inside man. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor a related example, see: Labbe, \"Colombia before Columbus, The People, Culture and Ceramic Art of Prehispanic Colombia\" pg 164, Colour Plates XXXiX \u0026amp; XL.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition\u003c\/strong\u003e: Some repaired breaks at the base, and approximately one-third of the rim is professionally restored, otherwise complete and in very good condition overall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions\u003c\/strong\u003e: Height: 22 inches (55.5 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e: Ex. private Danish collection, acquired 1970s, collection #1074.","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45782889431343,"sku":"PP2117","price":3500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2117_d17e5290-b764-4f2a-b11a-4086a2c377e8.jpg?v=1689117957"},{"product_id":"pa2106","title":"A Moche Copper Amulet or Finial, Late Classic Period, ca 800 - 1000 CE","description":"This very unusal Moche solid cast copper finial amulet shows the head and torso of a man who is drinking from a libation cup (kero).  He wars a distinctive round cap and a large loop protrudes from his back whcih is attached to a jug that probably contained the ceremonail drink “Chicha”, a type of maize beer.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Copper\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e  Height: 7\/8 inch (2.2 cm), Width: 1 1\/2 inches (3.81 cm)\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and in excellent condition overall.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e ex: Klassen Collection, thereafter private Canadian collection acquired in  2009 from the Estate of Joel Malter, (his Collection # 1535).\r","brand":"Michael Richards","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47768879202607,"sku":"PA2106","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/bb3501c848fa0b1650b1d8e204e11f4a.jpg?v=1697500411"},{"product_id":"ps2118","title":"A rare Veracruz Jaguar Hacha, Classic Period, ca. 600 - 900 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCarved from gray volcanic stone and covered in red cinnabar, this fine abstract hacha is carved into a jaguar head in profile with wide-open jaws with a large extended tongue that dominates the hacha, curving downwards from the roof of the mouth to the lower jaw, and is the only part of the stone that is highly polished.  A notch at the top of the head implies ears, and another at the tip of the snout indicates a nose. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eFor a very similar example see: Shook, Edwin M. and Elayne Marquis. Secrets in Stone: Yokes, Hachas and Palmas from Southern Mesoamerica. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1996, p 138, #J30.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground: \u003c\/strong\u003e The Mesoamerican ballgame is among the most important and enduring cultural features of the Pre-Columbian world, and its accompanying accoutrements of yokes, hachas, and palmas comprise one of the most important categories of stone sculpture.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the Spanish word for “axes”, enigmatic stone hachas probably represented ritual effigies of actual ballgame equipment made of lighter and more perishable materials. These ceremonial stone artifacts were evidently of high value, but many questions remain regarding the context in which they were originally used. Recently it has been suggested that some “may well be markers or trophies representing teams or individual players, which were placed on the sides of the ballcourts on certain occasions.” (Helmke, 2018, p. 15).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSome indications of how hachas were used may be discerned from depictions of ballplayers, such as “Toniná Monument 171”, a stone relief sculpture from the Maya site of Toniná, now in the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City. The sculpture depicts two players on either side of an enormous ball. One contestant stares at his opponent and leans forward to strike the ball with his hacha, which projects from the front of his yoke. The second player, seemingly intently focused on the ball, also wears a yoke and hacha, which is “rendered frontally and thereby seen as a narrow blade along the sternum”, perhaps suggesting that the hacha also had a protective function (\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHelmke 2018). This iconography also corresponds with a highly dignified Jaina figure of a ballplayer wearing a yoke with an attached bird-head hacha, now in the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven (inv. no. 1973.88.13; Whittington, 2001, p. 227, cat. no. 100).\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \"Secrets in Stone\", their comprehensive study of yokes, hachas, and palmas from southern Mesoamerica, Edwin M. Shook and Elayne Marquis identify a corpus of 60 hachas that have a jaguar as their primary motif (Shook 1996, pp. 129-146). The jaguar was an animal of immense importance in the life and religion of the Americas, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e invoked in warfare, hunting, and the ritual ballgame.  As the largest cats in the Americas, with a top speed of 50mph, jaguars are fierce predators, their bite so powerful it can pierce the skull of its prey to kill it instantly.  \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJaguar warriors were the most elite military class among the Aztecs, and it was a rank achieved only after defeating several enemies in battle. Warriors—and rulers stressing their military prowess—are depicted wearing jaguar helmets and headdresses. The ritual form of the Mesoamerican ballgame had close associations with both warfare and sacrifice, and jaguar elements were sometimes included in a player’s regalia. A stone hacha in the Met Museum collection of Classic Veracruz style, depicts the head of a ballplayer wearing a jaguar helmet (see MMA \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/312593\" title=\"Met Museum Hacha\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/312593\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e1979.206.371\u003c\/a\u003e). Among the Classic Maya, only rulers wore jaguar pelts and sat on jaguar thrones. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe conquest of an opposing team, like victory in warfare, resulted in the taking of captives and human sacrifice. The ballgame may have functioned as a political tool and a substitute for warfare as a way of consolidating and expanding territory and tribute (Stern 1949). The bold and assured carving of this hacha, perhaps claims for the game the status of warfare, and for the player, as for the warrior, the fierceness and power of the jaguar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResources and Additional Reading\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBenson, Elizabeth P. “The Lord, The Ruler, Jaguar Symbolism in the Americas,” in Icons of Power, Feline Symbolism in the Americas, Nicholas J. Saunders, ed., pp. 53-76. London and New York: Routledge, 1998.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHelmke, Yaeger, and Eli, “A Figurative Hacha from Buenavista del Cayo, Belize”, The PARI Journal, Vol. 18, No. 3, 2018, p. 20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShook, Edwin M. and Elayne Marquis. Secrets in Stone: Yokes, Hachas and Palmas from Southern Mesoamerica. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1996.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eStern, Theodore. The Rubber-Ball Game of the Americas, Monographs of the American Ethnological Society no.17. New York: J. J. Augustin, 1949.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWhittington, \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eE. Michael ed., The Sport of Life and Death: The Mesoamerican Ballgame, New York, 2001.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 10 1\/4 inches (26 cm), Length: 10 inches (25.4 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eIntact and in excellent condition overall. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe oxidized remnants of a cream pigment, perhaps pyrite, remain in the right eye.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003eEx. Dr. David Harner collection, Arkansas, assembled in the 1950s - 1960s, collection #04MY.33.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eDr. David Harner amassed a large collection of Pre-Columbian art, primarily from West Mexico, in the 1950s and 1960s. He authenticated objects for Tom Gilcrease, founder of the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, and in the 1970s, made extensive donations of pre-Columbian and Native American ceramics to the Gilcrease Museum. Dr. Harner was pictured in Who’s Who in Indian Relics, second edition, (1968).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47867443052847,"sku":"PS2118","price":16000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PS2118_7.jpg?v=1699566707"},{"product_id":"pj1904","title":"A Costa Rican Jade Axe Pendant, Early Classic Period, ca. 500 - 800 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eCosta Rican jade pendants are often in the form of \"axe-gods,\" in which an effigy carving of an animal, person, or a combination thereof surmounts a smooth blade in the form of a polished axe or celt and is drilled transversely for suspension. These celts were not functional weapons but rather badges of office, status, or clan-type affiliation and were worn on the person as pendants. Purposefully shaped like functional axes or celts, these highly prized pendants gave recognition to the importance of the working tools used in agriculture and forestry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis elongated example depicts an avian-headed axe god with two drilled holes for eyes, a triangular beak, and the lower half tapering into a rounded blade. The pendant has been drilled horizontally for suspension. Thinking of wearing this piece? Ask us about options. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Jade \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Length: 3 1\/8 inches (7.93 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/b\u003eIntact and in very good condition overall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/b\u003eMirtha Virginia de Perea (1929 - 2019) private collection of Costa Rican art. Mrs. de Perea spent her entire 48-year career with the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, achieving the rank of Cultural Minister-Counselor and Consul after having started as a secretary. She was a devoted patron of the arts, promoting numerous local artists and sponsoring many cultural events throughout her career. She also amassed an impressive collection of Latin American art. After retiring in 1999, she became a US citizen and continued her support of the arts through her membership in the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera and other local groups.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hood Auctions","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48014149124399,"sku":"PJ1904","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ1904_2.jpg?v=1699559521"},{"product_id":"pp2308","title":"A large Moche Stirrup Bottle, Moche IV, ca. 500 - 700 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe large bottle with globular body, tall neck, and large loop handle, the upper body decorated with two charming red-brown long-necked birds over cream ground, bisected by a red border, the lower body painted brown.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAndean societies thought of birds as precious resources; there was a roaring trade, for example, in parrot and macaw feathers from the Amazon Basin to the Andes so that they could adorn the garments of elites. Many birds appear in ancient Andean artwork, often depicted in ways that emphasized their perceived supernatural qualities and further showing the artisans were familiar with how real birds of many species looked. To the Moche, birds signified prestige, and the bright plumage of the parrot made it particularly valuable.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 9 3\/4 inches (25 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eSome scattered surface deposits and scattered surface wear. Handle repaired and reattached, otherwise complete and in very good condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eEstate of David Sheridan, Branchburg, NJ, acquired 1950’s to early 2000’s, then by descent to family.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48014392688943,"sku":"PP2308","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2308_4.jpg?v=1701665801"},{"product_id":"ps2303","title":"A fine Teotihuacan Obsidian Stone Mask, Early Classic Period, ca. 450 - 650 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis fine mask showcases the craftsmanship and artistic skills of the ancient Teotihuacan civilization. The use of dark obsidian, a volcanic glass believed to hold supernatural properties, adds a unique and striking visual quality to this piece.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe mask stands out for its geometric simplicity; the facial planes are crisply carved, reflecting a style that emphasizes clean lines and well-defined shapes, that embodies a concept of idealized beauty according to Teotihuacan aesthetics.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  Teotihuacan\u003c\/span\u003e artisans were skilled in capturing even the smallest nuances of facial features in their artworks which is evidenced here by the slender curved nose, subtletly modeled lips and the drilled eyes that once held inlays.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThese inlays could be made from various materials, such as shells, jade, or other precious stones, to create a contrasting effect against the dark obsidian, adding depth and detail to the eyes, and making them more lifelike and captivating. \u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHolding deep cultural and ceremonial significance within Teotihuacan society, this mask was probably used in rituals, ceremonies, or even as a part of burial practices. The combination of geometric simplicity, idealized beauty, and intricate detailing showcases the Teotihuacan people's artistic sophistication and their ability to create captivating and symbolic artifacts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 6 inches (15.24 cm) \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eGood weathered surface with minor erosion and small losses to the obsidian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate Florida collection acquired between 1968 - 1969 and then by descent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Howard Nowes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48109282459951,"sku":"PS2303","price":9500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PS2303.png?v=1774067999"},{"product_id":"pp2305","title":"A Chupicuaro Redware Tripod Avian Bowl, Pre-Classic Period, ca. 400 - 100 BCE","description":"A large anthropomorphic tripod bowl, standing on three tapered legs, the head of a bird with hollow eyes and curved beak at one end and a rounded tail at the other, the exterior covered in the characteristic West Mexican red slip. Chupícuaro is a late Pre-Classic archaeological culture located in west central Mexico. It was a major ceramic center, recognized as one of the best in Mesoamerica, and best known for its bold polychrome ceramics \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Ceramic \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 6 3\/4 inches (17 cm), Length: 12 1\/4 inches (31 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e  A few minor stable tight hair lines in the rim, otherwise intact and in very good condition overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDr. David Harner collection, Arkansas, 1950’s - 1960’s, collection #CH420, thereafter a private\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Nevada collection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48361647898927,"sku":"PP2305","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/products\/56acff49d2f9e0240c25e2daaa5d45f5.jpg?v=1704059606"},{"product_id":"pj2148","title":"A Costa Rican Jadeite Bird-Celt Pendant, Early Classic Period, ca. 100 - 600 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany bird-form pendants of Costa Rica feature a lower section shaped like a workaday celt or ax. The stone celt of teardrop shape was the common working tool in the ancient Americas, and in some instances the shape itself took on greater, perhaps even sacred, significance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFinely carved in translucent blue-green jadeite, the lower part of this pendant is an example of how the celt shape was integrated into prized personal ornaments. At the top of the pendant, the bird aspects are stylized in a presentation known in greater detail from other jade pendants. Costa Rican bird pendants fall into given groups based on style and imagery, but individual differences also characterize and distinguish them one from the other.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSuch pendants conveyed symbolic power to the wearer, and several lines of evidence suggest that these valued objects were passed down for generations and were traded widely as luxury goods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ecf: Clark, John E., and Michael Blake The Power of Prestige: Competitive Generosity and the Emergence of Rank Societies in Lowland Mesoamerica. In Factional Competition and Political Development in the New World, Elizabeth M. Brumfiel and John W. Fox, eds., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp: 17– 30. Coe, Michael D. The Jaguar’s Children: Pre-Classic Central Mexico. New York: Museum of Primitive Art, 1965. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Jadeite \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 2 1\/2 inches (6.3 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and in excellent condition overall with no chips, cracks or breaks. A very fine example. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Mirtha Virginia de Perea (1929 - 2019) private collection of Costa Rican art. Mrs. de Perea spent her entire 48-year career with the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, achieving the rank of Cultural Minister-Counselor and Consul after having started as a secretary. She was a devoted patron of the arts, promoting numerous local artists and sponsoring many cultural events throughout her career. She also amassed an impressive collection of Latin American art. After retiring in 1999, she became a US citizen and continued her support of the arts through her membership in the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera and other local groups.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Perea estate","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49765344837935,"sku":"PJ2148","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/d5962cd652e2f2a92ef3a8860d72a4a3.jpg?v=1716165037"},{"product_id":"ps2305","title":"A Costa Rican Decorated Stone Metate, ca. 800 - 1200 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe metate is a type of grinding platform found in the ancient Americas; its forms vary from simple utilitarian to highly decorated ceremonial models. The curved grinding plate on this volcanic stone metate is decorated on the underside in raised relief with a central stylized figure having a human body and rectangular head, with the front leg incorporated as a long snout. The edge of the plate features a wide herringbone border. The plate stands on three cylindrical legs for stability, decorated with raised lines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll materials that needed grinding were done using a metate, including maize, cacao, and slip pigments. The metate and mano were carved out of various types of porous volcanic rock, often microdiorite or andesite. The rough and brittle surface, usually made rougher by weathering, actually assisted with the grinding, making it easier to break down tough or fibrous materials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a related example in the Michael C. Carlos Museum, see Rebecca Stone-Miller, Seeing with New Eyes, p.134, catalog number 293. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Volcanic stone \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 7 inches (17.78 cm), Length: 13.75 ins (35 cm), Width: 8.75 ins (22.2 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:   \u003c\/b\u003eIntact and in very good condition overall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Scheifele Family private collection, CT., acquired 1962 - 1965, collection # 293\/58.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50199786127663,"sku":"PS2305","price":2950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PS2305_2.jpg?v=1719836598"},{"product_id":"pj2403","title":"A fine Sinú Gold Bird Pendant, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003ePerhaps more than any other Sinú works of art, this charming figurative pendant offers a tantalizing glimpse into Sinú cosmology and mythology — as well as of their appreciation for the natural environment.   With its outstretched wings, curved beak, and trapezoidal body, it displays a perfection and abstract purity of form. This archaic motif is based upon the powerful birds of prey (eagles, vultures, hawks, etc.) that signify shamanic power and supreme status throughout the Americas.  Birds supplied rich metaphors for an ability to mediate between all worlds, whether nature or spirit. The symbolic relationship between birds and human beings was, therefore, a primary aesthetic theme for Sinú goldsmiths.  Cast in gold using the lost wax process, this pendant thus resonates with Sinú beliefs linking gold, a material of spiritual essence and efficacy, with metaphysical transformation and shamanic metamorphosis. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Gold \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1.9 cm (0.74 inch). Strung on an 18K yellow gold chain that can be adjusted up to 18 inches \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/b\u003eThe pendant is intact and in excellent condition overall.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private Danish collection, acquired 1970’s, thereafter private NYC collection, acquired from the trade in the early 2000’s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50289352802607,"sku":"PJ2403","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/69ee46a8a43c37afc6f05a0dff099635.jpg?v=1721500921"},{"product_id":"pt2310","title":"A Veracruz Terracotta Dignitary Head, Early Classic Period, ca. 250 - 550 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis Veracruz dignitary believed to be a priest, is portrayed with a large head and chest made from buff-colored clay. He wears a wide-banded headdress secured with a chinstrap, his ears are adorned with sizable ear spools and a necklace featuring a prominent central pendant is around his neck. His exquisitely crafted face boasts classic Veracruz characteristics, including almond-shaped eyes, elegantly sloping brows, a distinguished long nose, and a slightly parted mouth. A sizable firing hole at the back suggests that this sculpture was originally a standalone statue rather than part of a larger relief. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the middle centuries of the first millennium, the artistically gifted Veracruzanos located on the Gulf Coast of Mexico created particularly inventive ceramic sculpture in varying styles. This piece is a beautiful example of the elegant high-end sculpture of the Veracruz elite. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Terracotta \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 10 1\/4 inches (26 cm), Width: 6 1\/4 inches (16 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Originally from a larger statue, the head presents beautifully and is in very good condition overall. It is presented on a museum-quality custom mount. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private collection of a Connecticut attorney, acquired from Parke Bernet, NYC., April 13th, 1973, lot 28, and authenticated by Michael Coe, January 24th, 1974.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50328008065327,"sku":"PT2310","price":6995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PT2310.jpg?v=1722561531"},{"product_id":"pp2312","title":"A Maya Tripod Plate with Maize God, Classic Maya Period, ca. 600 - 800 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003ePainted Mayan pottery such as this example was used for feasting, ritual purposes, and as prestigious gifts given to emphasize the power of the giver and bind the recipient to them through a form of purchased loyalty. Maya kings and queens might give them to local governors. The artists who created them were also often minor royalty or nobility, especially the ones who could paint glyphs, as literacy was reserved for the Mayan elite. This large orangeware tripod plate is decorated within the central roundel with a standing dancer depicted in profile, wearing ceremonial costume. A register of glyphs rings the interior of the plate. The plate is supported by three hollow legs containing pellets that rattle when the plate is moved.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dance of resurrection is depicted on this tripod plate. The Maya believed that after having defeated the lords of death, a person's resurrected soul danced out of the underworld. At resurrection, the person danced as, or became, the Young Corn God, employing the model of the re-emergence of corn every year in the milpa (corn field) as the metaphor for human resurrection after death. Such maize god renewal scenes are common on plates painted at Tikal and perhaps refer to the corn-based tamales served on such dishes. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Ceramic, polychrome \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 3 1\/2 inches (8.8 cm), Diameter: 11 inches (28 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Scattered mineral deposits and root marks on the surface. Repaired from six large original pieces and one leg reattached. Some break lines are left visible with no in-painting to the decoration.  Professional cosmetic conservation can be arranged if required.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private Atlanta, Georgia collection, acquired by the current owner in the 1960’s. With copy of provenance letter from the owner.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50455645880623,"sku":"PP2312","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/5057-9.jpg?v=1725111192"},{"product_id":"pp1309","title":"A large Narino Pottery Bullet Amphora, Columbia, ca. 750 -1200 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis huge, hand-built anthropomorphic storage jar is known as a bullet amphora because of\u003cspan\u003e its projectile-shaped profile.  It features \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ea low, conical base, a gently sloped shoulder that tapers to form the cylindrical neck, and a dramatically flared rim.  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHighly burnished, it is \u003c\/span\u003eadorned with detailed resist painting. Its rich, dark brown background is embellished with a star medallion and crosshatching motifs, while the long neck depicts fine geometric symbols decorated with soft crosshatching.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Terracotta \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 65 cm (25.6 inches), Diameter at widest: 29 cm (11.4 inches) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Complete and in very good condition overall.  Includes pictured metal stand.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Diplomatic private Washington, DC collection, acquired in the late 1950's.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Howard Nowes","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50459452571951,"sku":"PP1309","price":4950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP1309_6.jpg?v=1725300473"},{"product_id":"px2301","title":"A Costa Rican Green Serpentine Bola Ball, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eA carved and polished deep blue-green serpentine bola ball with a drilled triple hole suspension system on the top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBolas are traditional hunting tools in the Americas, most famously used by South American gauchos, but have been used since pre-Columbian times. Hunters threw them at the legs of their prey in a movement similsr to lassos in order to trip them up or injure them. The Inca and the Mapuche also used them in battle. The deep green stone of this example indicates it comes from ancient Costa Rica. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Green serpentine \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1 1\/2 inches (3.81 cm), Diameter: 1 5\/8 inches (4.12 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e The ball is intact and in very good condition overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Scheifele Family private collection, CT, acquired between 1962 - 1965, collection #192\/47.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50565988843823,"sku":"PX2301","price":1950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PX2301.jpg?v=1728064426"},{"product_id":"px2406","title":"A fine Taino stone celt, ca. 7th - 15th century CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eCrafted with precision, this sizeable Taino celt boasts a meticulously hand-polished surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most numerous category of polished stone sculpture emerging from the Taíno world of the ancestral Caribbean islands are ceremonial axes and blades, which take many forms and may have been an important medium of exchange. Ceremonial blades made of different types of greenstone, both local and imported, have been recovered in large numbers. These axes, known as petaloid celts for their resemblance to flower petals, could have served as dedicatory offerings, which have a long history on the Caribbean mainland in Mesoamerica. For a similar example see Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number: 1994.35.417 https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search\/317166 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Stone \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 10 3\/4 inches (23.3 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and in excellent condition. Custom mounted. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private NY collection, acquired in the 1990s and then by descent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Frank Zhang","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50634955915567,"sku":"PX2406","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PX2406.jpg?v=1729974077"},{"product_id":"pj2151","title":"A Costa Rican Jadeite Profile Monkey Pendant, Classic Period, ca. 300 - 900 CE","description":"Costa Rican jade pendants are often in the form of \"axe-gods,\" in which an effigy carving of an animal, person, or a combination thereof, surmounts a smooth blade in the form of a polished axe or celt and is drilled transversely for suspension.  These celts were not functional weapons, but rather badges of office, status, or clan-type affiliation, and were worn on the person as pendants. Purposefully shaped like functional axes or celts, these highly-prized pendants gave recognition to the importance of the working tools used in agriculture and forestry.  \r\rCarved from mottled green jadeite, this pendant is in the form of a monkey in profile, with a protruding brow ridge, indented eyes,  and an open mouth, the body tapering to a point.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Jade\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e  Height: 3 inches (7.5 cm)\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Complete, rejoined at center but otherwise in excellent condition overall.  A very fine example.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Mirtha Virginia de Perea (1929 - 2019) private collection of Costa Rican art.  Mrs. de Perea spent her entire 48-year career with the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, achieving the rank of Cultural Minister-Counselor and Consul after having started as a secretary. She was a devoted patron of the arts, promoting numerous local artists and sponsoring many cultural events throughout her career. She also amassed an impressive collection of Latin American art. After retiring in 1999, she became a US citizen and continued her support of the arts through her membership in the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera and other local groups.\r","brand":"Perea estate","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50681680789807,"sku":"PJ2151","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2151.jpg?v=1731175643"},{"product_id":"pp2403","title":"A good Colima Redware seated Dog, ca. 250 BCE - 100 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eA good pottery effigy of a seated dog, with defined musculature, pump belly, upcurled tail, and a good burnished surface combining shades of orange and red. The dog's head is held high, the sculpted ears pointed and alert, the eyes and mouth incised, and the snout naturalistically modeled. There is a wide tapered spout at the top of the head.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe impression conveyed by the dog is that in life, it probably was loved and cared for as a pet; perhaps the effigy, in turn, served as a comforting companion for the soul of the deceased. To the ancient peoples of Mesoamerica, dogs symbolized death and the journey to the afterlife. From seventy-five to ninety percent of the shaft-and-chamber tombs in Colima contain ceramic dogs. The preHispanic belief in Xolotl, the dog of the netherworld, may explain the ritual interment of ceramic or actual dogs. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Terracotta \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 11 1\/8 inches (28.3 cm), Length: 14 inches (35.5 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e A 1” spout rim chip, some restoration to both ears, left front leg cleanly reattached, head reattached, and body repaired from a few large original pieces with restoration over the break lines. Overall scattered mineral deposits, in good condition overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e George and Julianne Alderman, Baltimore, MD, private collection acquired mid 1960s to mid 1990s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50687619629359,"sku":"PP2403","price":2950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/e464228aff78f3d1f160a447421f6ae1.jpg?v=1731290809"},{"product_id":"pp2314","title":"A Moche Seated Chieftan Effigy Vessel, ca. 500 - 800 CE","description":"A very fine effigy vessel in the form of a chieftan sitting cross-legged with his hands on his knees, wearing a plain red-brown tunic, white loincloth, and white hood underneath a wide headband with two snarling fox heads with three-dimensional ears along the front.  The chieftan's face is decorated with two snake tattoos, winding down from the outer corners of his eyes and enveloping his mouth with their heads.  A stirrup spout is attached to the back of the vessel.\r\rFoxes are often depicted as warriors in Moche art (Donnan and McClelland, 1999).  The role of foxes in Moche religion may derive from their behavior in the natural world. Foxes hunt and capture small prey, much as warriors would fight and capture prisoners. Foxes also may be associated with the world of the dead, as they are primarily nocturnal and live in underground burrows.  The fox would therefore be a very appropriate symbol of a warrior chieftan.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Clay, polychrome\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e  Height: 8 3\/4 inches (22.2 cm), Width: 5 inches (12.7 cm)\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e A probe hole in the base and a 1 1\/2-inch area of inpainting on his left shoulder that does not detract.   Some minor chipping on the spout rim and left tip of one fox’s ear restored. Otherwise intact and in excellent condition overall.\r\r\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Alan C. Lapiner to Veracruzana Inc. NYC in the 1960s, Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc., 1970s with old Merrin Gallery label affixed to the base, thereafter private NYC collection.\r","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50713171362095,"sku":"PP2314","price":4995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2314_3.jpg?v=1731960638"},{"product_id":"pj2402","title":"A fine Andean Bird Pendant, ca. 500 - 1500 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eCarved into the shape of a condor, facing skyward with stylized wings and tail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Andean condor is a sacred bird and a significant part of Andean mythology and traditions, associated with the sun deity, power, health, and the upper world. The Incas believed the condor was a messenger to the gods and that it brought the sun into the sky each morning. They also considered the condor an immortal representation of the Jananpacha, which is the sky, upper world, and future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Inca society, the condor represented the heavens, one of the three realms of existence.  The snake represented the underworld, and the jaguar represented the earth. These cultural references can be seen throughout Inca society, including in their architecture. For example, Machu Picchu, is shaped like a condor when viewed from a nearby mountaintop. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Red jasper \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1 7\/8 inches (4.6 cm). Strung on an 18K yellow gold chain adjustable up to 18 inches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e  Minor chip to the tail that does not detract, otherwise intact and in very good condition overall.  A charming piece!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private Danish collection, acquired 1970’s, thereafter private NYC collection, acquired from the trade in the early 2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50713381798191,"sku":"PJ2402","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/cffe3353140532b67634cbb37d37a48a.jpg?v=1731968190"},{"product_id":"pp2324","title":"An Exhibited Moche Rattle Cup with Crayfish Center, Early Intermediate Period - Middle Horizon, ca. 200 - 800 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eA pottery chalice with a long tapered pedestal handle with a rattle base. The bowl's interior is decorated in high relief with a crayfish with painted red-brown extended tentacles. The cup is painted with a cream slip interior and base, and red-brown bowl exterior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibited\u003c\/strong\u003e: Ancient Forms For The Modern Eye, Colnaghi Gallery, NYC, April 17th - July 20, 2018. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Clay, polychrome \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e 6 7\/8 x 5 1\/4 inches (17.5 x 13.3 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Scattered mineral deposits on the surface. A shallow rim chip and a partially restored hair line in the rim, otherwise intact. A rare example. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private East coast collection, acquired by the current collection 6\/17\/89 from Ancient Art of the New World, NYC.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50752367526191,"sku":"PP2324","price":4950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/1dc352d0936f9c549b4d8d1ae04a1384.jpg?v=1732724879"},{"product_id":"pj2305","title":"A fine Olmec Jade Bead Necklace, Pre-Classical Period, ca. 1100 - 400 BCE","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn beautiful single strand necklace comprised of very finely carved spherical jade beads. The jades vary in color from pale to medium to deep forest green; many have a bluish cast that the Olmecs prized. Modern strung on a wire strand, with modern 14K gold clasp and gold bead spacers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJade was the preeminent material in ancient Mesoamerica, from Olmec through the Maya era, for conveying life-sustaining power and status. Known as \u003cem\u003echalchihuitl\u003c\/em\u003e, jade represented the first green shoots of fresh growing maize, flowing water, and the promise of fertility and regeneration in this extremely durable and everlasting form. The Olmecs valued jade over any other material in lapidary art; difficult to obtain, it was a relatively rare and precious stone. Olmec artists polished the stone to a mirror finish to reveal its color and translucency. There was a strong preference for blue-green hues, which was the color associated with the center of the cosmos. jade was revered in ancient cultures, as well as today, to access the spiritual world, gain insight into ritualistic knowledge, encourage creativity, and help interpret dreams. Most valued for its metaphysical properties, it was cherished as a protective talisman, assuring long life and a peaceful death, and was considered a powerful healing stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vibrant green variations symbolized growth and vegetation, especially young, maturing corn, making it a stone that stands for wealth, longevity, vitality, life, and death. Olmec, Maya, Aztec, and Costa Rican elites particularly appreciated jade carvings and artifacts and commissioned elegant pieces from skillful artisans. Jade was traded and exchanged among elite members as a luxury item all over the pre-Hispanic American world and is often found in elite burial contexts as personal adornments. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Jade \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Length: 17 inches (44 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Overall, it is intact and in excellent condition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Stuart Giles (1951-1993) private collection acquired in London between 1978 and 1982, then by family descent.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Peter Lane","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50784851198255,"sku":"PJ2305","price":4500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/22ae5394e0675510c75ed8fce9f018ee.jpg?v=1733785600"},{"product_id":"pp2321","title":"An exhibited Chimu-Inca Double Bird Effigy Vessel, Late Intermediate Period - Late Horizon, ca. 1100 - 1500 CE","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"373\" data-end=\"976\"\u003eA striking blackware stirrup-spout vessel featuring the conjoined effigies of two long-billed water birds, likely shorebirds or cormorants, rendered in a dynamic and naturalistic pose. One bird is shown preening the neck of the other, while the second turns its head back across its body. Both figures are sculpted with tight wings, bulbous eyes, and prominent beaks, each anchoring one end of the stirrup spout that rises centrally. The vessel rests on a flared foot and exhibits the characteristic lustrous surface typical of Chimú ceramics, achieved through post-firing burnishing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"978\" data-end=\"1302\"\u003eThis type of vessel not only served as a utilitarian or ceremonial container but also reflected the Chimú-Inca emphasis on marine and avian life, symbolically tied to coastal ecology and religious cosmology. The conjoined birds suggest themes of duality, harmony, and interrelation—recurring motifs in Andean visual culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExhibited\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cem\u003eAncient Forms For The Modern Eye\u003c\/em\u003e, Colnaghi Gallery, NYC, April 17th - July 20, 2018. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Clay \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e 8 1\/2 x 5 3\/4 x 5 3\/8 inches (21.6 x 14.6 x 13.7 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSpout reattached at the stirrup junction; otherwise intact and in excellent condition, with well-preserved surfaces and minor mineral deposits.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Private East Coast collection, acquired April 6, 1989, from Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, NYC.\u003c\/span\u003e Ex. Rafael Gutierrez was acquired in the 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50839535550767,"sku":"PP2321","price":4950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/2f7dd90eabb85f22f6b17b962ccfa738.jpg?v=1735353115"},{"product_id":"pa2401","title":"A Chimu Spondyllus Duck Amulet, ca. 800 - 1400 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eCleverly carved from gorgeous two-toned cream and orange spondyllus shell, in the form of a duck with a large head and pointed beak, large inlaid eyes, a forward-facing body with pert tail feathers, inlaid with seven greenstone gems on one side, and six greenstone and one turquoise gem on the other. Standing on a rectangular base with a round suspension hole at the bottom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpondylus shell was highly prized by all Pre-Columbian cultures, even more so than gold. The spondylus shell (thorny or spiny oyster) was found in Pacific coastal waters from Panama to Northern Peru and was traded extensively throughout the Americas. The careful carving of this vibrant example exemplifies the ceremonial importance and ritual significance of the Spondylus. When carved, the shells revealed layers of vibrant colors in white, orange, and pink. Andean cultures used complete spondylus shells in ceremonial rituals, and they were also cut into smaller pieces and used in jewelry, inlays, as trade currency, and placed in burials. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Spondyllus shell, greenstone, turquoise \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1 1\/4 inches (3 cm). Length: 1 3\/8 inches (3.5 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Minor chips to the surface and one lost inlay, overall in good condition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private Danish collection, acquired 1970s.  Thereafter private NYC collection, acquired from the trade in the early 2000s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50968113512751,"sku":"PA2401","price":760.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/6b31aaf72dcf58275a635bf458172941.jpg?v=1738093248"},{"product_id":"pj2307","title":"A pair of Mixtec Jade Floral Appliques, ca. 600 - 800 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eA matching pair of creamy gray-green jade ear ornaments, with carved stylized floral decoration and two drilled suspension holes each.  Set as very pretty earrings with modern 14K gold posts ready to wear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:  \u003c\/strong\u003eJade, gold\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eApplique Width: 1 1\/8 inches (2.8 cm) \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eIntact and in excellent condition.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003e Private NYC collection acquired from Edward H. Merrin Gallery, NYC, 1960’s - 1970’s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51097775505711,"sku":"PJ2307","price":1795.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2307_4.jpg?v=1741724760"},{"product_id":"pp2501","title":"A large Colima Fluted Parrot Vessel, Late Formative-Early Classic Period, ca. 250 BCE - 100 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis large and beautifully fluted vessel is made of highly polished red earthenware and was likely a grave offering placed in a tomb in West Mexico. Many such vessels were made, with fluted sides possibly representing calabash fruits seen in the Comala style from Colima.  More broadly, they represent the agricultural plenty that would have been needed for the underworld.  Here, parrots with wings folded tightly on their backs form tripod supports and eagerly nibble on the juicy fruit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a classic example, see Richard F. Townsend, ed., Ancient West Mexico: Art and Archaeology of the Unknown Past, Chicago, 1998, p. 213, fig. 21.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a related example see:  Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, accession number: 2009.20.213 and Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number: 1979.206.350.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Clay \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 9 1\/4 inches (23.5 cm), Width: 14 1\/2 inches (36.8 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Repaired breaks around rim and losses to two feet, otherwise complete and in very good condition overall.  A large and lovely example that presents beautifully.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Sotheby's, London, Pre-Columbian, Oceanic, American Indian \u0026amp; African Art, 11 December 1978, Lot 90 | Collection of Dr. and Mrs. Albert and Carol Rosenthal, Estate of Carol Rosenthal (1942 – 2024.  With collection number: 6234 on the base.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Toomey \u0026 Co.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51153084907823,"sku":"PP2501","price":4950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2501.jpg?v=1774219143"},{"product_id":"pp2409","title":"A Large Casas Grandes Owl Vessel, Post Classic Period, ca. 1250  - 1450 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis striking vessel, possibly an olla, displays a captivating owl head emerging from the rim. Its charming appearance is highlighted by its small circular eyes, hooked beak, and pointed ears, forming a round face outlined in dark brown. The vessel broadens from a wide opening to a flared shoulder, before narrowing again to a softly-rounded base. The intricate patterns of black and red lines, geometric shapes, and steps add a touch of elegance to this beautifully crafted piece.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCasas Grandes, also known as Paquimé, was situated north of the traditional hub of the Mesoamerican world and south of the Pueblo cultures of the Southwest. Flourishing between 1130 and 1450 CE, the iconographic style of Casas Grande art reflects influences from both Mesoamerica and the Southwest. Casas Grandes was a well-planned urban center that became prosperous through trade in precious commodities such as shells, copper, turquoise, and tropical bird feathers. The city's craftsmen, skilled in working with these materials, further enhanced its wealth by producing finished products for export. Among these were ceramic vessels featuring bright polychrome surfaces. The vessels, primarily globular jars, were highly valued and extensively traded. In their production, certain standardized systems of shape and decoration were adhered to, which included restrained color schemes—primarily blue\/black and brown\/red—geometric patterns, and a notable use of human and animal imagery, such as this example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a parallel example, see: Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, catalogue number: 11\/9883.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 8 1\/2 inches (21.59 cm), Width: 8 inches (20.32 cm)\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eShort collar rim partially restored and head reattached, bowl is repaired from approximately twenty original pieces with restoration over the break lines and some resurfacing on the exterior, with touch up to the painted decoration.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/strong\u003eEstate of Peter H. Tillou (1935 - 2021), CT, acquired in the 1990s, then passed to family by descent. Appraised by Marianne Huber (art appraiser\/consultant, formerly of Huber Primitive Art and later of New World Art Services) in 2014, collection # 010. Tillou was a renowned international arts and antiques dealer with galleries in Buffalo, New York; Litchfield, Connecticut; Sun Valley, Idaho; London, England; and New York City during his career, which spanned over 65 years. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51158151594287,"sku":"PP2409","price":1750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2409.jpg?v=1743534806"},{"product_id":"pj2404","title":"Costa Rican Jade Pendant with Birds, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThis Costa Rican jade pendant is carved in the form of a stylized double bird head half-celt. The two bird heads feature downturned beaks, semi-drilled eyes, and tufted crests on their heads. The celt has a tapered, rounded blade, with one drilled suspension hole behind the bird heads and another through the width of the blade, enabling it to be worn or suspended. This beautifully crafted piece reflects the high degree of artistry and symbolic significance in ancient Costa Rican jade work, likely serving both ceremonial and ornamental purposes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Jade\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Height: 6 inches (15.1 cm), Width: 1 5\/8 inches (4.1 cm)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Intact and in excellent condition overall.  Mounted on a custom lucite base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/strong\u003e Private Indianapolis collection, acquired from Grayson Gallery, Chicago, IL., 1990’s.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51349364605231,"sku":"PJ2404","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2404.jpg?v=1745526019"},{"product_id":"pj2158","title":"A Costa Rican Jadeite Hybrid Pendant Amulet, Late Formative to Early Classic period ca. 300 - 500 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis finely carved pendant depicts a composite zoomorphic figure, merging characteristics of an armadillo and a bird, rendered in the abstract, angular style of Greater Nicoya jade artistry. The compact, armored body, rounded snout, and upright posture evoke the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), a nocturnal burrowing animal common in Central America. In contrast, the prominent tail, raised crest, and flared rear elements resemble avian plumage, indicating deliberate iconographic blending.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eSuch hybrid figures were common in Pre-Columbian Costa Rican art, especially in jade, a material associated with fertility, water, and social prestige. The armadillo, symbolic of protection, earth, and the underworld, is here combined with avian elements traditionally linked to sky, vision, or shamanic flight. This duality may have represented liminal transformation or shamanic power, the ability to navigate both terrestrial and spiritual realms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA large biconical perforation through the torso indicates that the piece was designed for suspension, most likely worn as the centerpiece of a ceremonial necklace with accompanying beads of jade, shell, or other valuable materials.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe stylization and tool marks align with known Costa Rican jade-working traditions from the Late Formative to Early Classic period. Pendants like this one are associated with elite status and ritual use, reflecting the cultural significance of jade as a symbol of fertility, power, and cosmic regeneration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Blue\/green Jadeite\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1 1\/4 inches (3 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and in very good condition overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Mirtha Virginia de Perea (1929 - 2019) private collection of Costa Rican art. Mrs. de Perea spent her entire 48-year career at the Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC, advancing from secretary to the rank of Cultural Minister-Counselor and Consul. She was a devoted patron of the arts, promoting numerous local artists and sponsoring many cultural events throughout her career. She also amassed an impressive collection of Latin American art. After retiring in 1999, she became a US citizen and continued her support of the arts through her membership in the Women’s Committee of the Washington National Opera and other local groups.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Perea estate","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51581982638383,"sku":"PJ2158","price":2750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/dcd484678749083f424c1587977feba8.jpg?v=1751386980"},{"product_id":"pp2410","title":"A fine Coclé Polychrome Bowl with Crocodile God Motif, Late Classic Period, ca. 900–1100 CE","description":"\u003cp data-end=\"971\" data-start=\"442\"\u003eA superbly decorated Coclé polychrome bowl featuring a dynamic depiction of the Crocodile God, rendered in bold purple, red, and black on a cream ground. The figure is depicted in profile, with an upturned snout, extended limbs, and clawed feet arranged in a dramatic, swirling posture that suggests ritual movement or dance. The composition is tightly organized within a circular field bordered by a narrow orange-red rim, with strong linear detailing and hatched elements characteristic of Sitio Conte iconography.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1381\" data-start=\"973\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eIn ancient Panama, the Crocodile God was a central figure in Coclé cosmology, symbolizing fertility, solar power, water, and the underworld. Revered for its amphibious nature and predatory strength, the crocodile served as a powerful metaphor for both divine authority and transitional power between realms. This bowl likely functioned as a ceremonial object, used by elites to imbue themselves with the power of crocodiles, invoke supernatural favor, or assert religious authority.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1381\" data-start=\"973\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground: \u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eThe ceramic traditions of the Gran Coclé culture represent some of the most sophisticated expressions of Pre-Hispanic art in Central America. Flourishing in the central isthmus of Panama between approximately 200 BCE and 1550 CE, this culture produced bold, vibrant, and symbolically charged vessels that served both utilitarian and ceremonial roles.  The Gran Coclé artistic tradition is best known for discoveries at Sitio Conte, an elite burial site where many richly adorned graves were found. Based on Spanish accounts from the sixteenth century and later archaeological evidence, it is now understood that these elaborate funerary offerings, which included polychrome vessels, were reserved for high-ranking individuals, particularly those of the elite and the nobility. Ceramics, such as the Crocodile God bowl, not only served as grave goods but also played an active role in ritual life. They connected their owners to the supernatural realm and reinforced their social status.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1381\" data-start=\"973\"\u003eToday, these ceramics are recognized for their exceptional technical skill, complex iconography, and cultural insight. They remain central to our understanding of indigenous Central American belief systems and artistic innovations prior to European contact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Terracotta\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Height: 2 1\/4  inches (5.7 cm), Diameter: 7 3\/4 (19.69)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e  \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eReassembled from six large fragments with light cosmetic blending along the join lines. The work is professionally executed and does not detract from the visual impact of the design.  A most impressive example.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e  Estate of Peter H. Tillou (1935 - 2021), CT., acquired in the 1990s, then to family by descent.\u003c\/span\u003e Appraised by Marianne Huber, (art appraiser\/consultant, formerly of Huber Primitive Art and later of New World Art Services) in 2014, collection #27808.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eTillou was a renowned international arts and antiques dealer with galleries in Buffalo, New York, Litchfield, Connecticut, Sun Valley, Idaho, London, England and New York City during the course of his career, spanning over 65 years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51637997994287,"sku":"PP2410","price":4750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PP2410.jpg?v=1752785413"},{"product_id":"px2403","title":"A published Costa Rican Owl-Form Quartz Mace Head,  ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"552\" data-end=\"852\"\u003eA superb example of a Pre-Columbian ceremonial mace head, carved in the form of an owl’s head from dense, veined brownish-gray quartz naturally flecked with crystalline white. The head is rounded and compact, pierced vertically with a shaft hole for attachment to a wooden staff.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"854\" data-end=\"1389\"\u003eDominating the front are two large circular eyes, carefully carved to take advantage of the high concentration of white mineral inclusions, resulting in a striking contrast against the darker matrix and imbuing the piece with a penetrating, expressive gaze. A lightly incised line subtly outlines the facial features, including the narrowed beak and brow. Small pointed ear tufts crown the head, stylized and projecting slightly. The surface is finely smoothed and polished, enhancing both the form and natural patterning of the stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1391\" data-end=\"1896\"\u003eNon-functional and purely ceremonial, such mace heads were symbols of authority and lineage. Each example was likely clan-specific, with animals such as monkeys, bats, snakes, and owls identifying the bearer’s ancestral group. The owl, rendered here with refinement and symbolic intensity, was associated in ancient Costa Rican belief systems with \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003edeath, shamanic transformation, warrior castes, and the messengers of the underworld. It served as a liminal figure, connected to warrior societies and shamanic practices.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1898\" data-end=\"2161\"\u003eThis example, with its careful execution and powerful iconography, would have belonged to a high-status individual from the owl clan, and was likely buried with the owner to signify their enduring identity and role within the spiritual hierarchy of their society.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a parallel, see: Rebecca Stone-Miller, Seeing with New Eyes: Highlights from the Michael C. Carlos Museum Collection of Art of the Ancient Americas, Atlanta: Emory University (2002), p. 144, nos. 315 and 316.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublished:  \u003c\/strong\u003eAncient Forms for the Modern Eye, Colnaghi Gallery, New York,  April 17 - July 20, 2018. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:  \u003c\/strong\u003eVeined brownish-gray quartz with white crystalline inclusions\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:  \u003c\/strong\u003eHeight: 2 inches (5 cm), Length: 2 3\/4 inches  (7 cm)\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:  \u003c\/strong\u003eTwo small chips to the top of the head that do not detract; otherwise intact and in excellent condition. The polish is well preserved, with only minor surface wear consistent with age and use.  Presented on a museum-quality custom mount.\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance:  \u003c\/strong\u003ePrivate East coast collection, acquired by the current collection in 1989, from Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, New York. \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51664032563503,"sku":"PX2403","price":2950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PX2403_5.jpg?v=1749581358"},{"product_id":"pj2502","title":"A Maya Jade Bead, Classic Period, ca. 500 - 900 CE","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eCarved from mottled sage-green jadeite, this finely polished bead is fashioned into an ovoid form and incised with three shallow concentric rings encircling the body. The stone exhibits attractive variegation in tone and translucency, producing subtle tonal shifts when viewed in raking light. The combination of precise incisions and a high, almost buttery polish indicates skilled lapidary work consistent with Classic-period Mesoamerican jade craftsmanship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eJade (particularly jadeite) held deep symbolic and ritual importance among the ancient Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures. Valued above many other materials, jade was associated with life, fertility, and regeneration and was frequently used as a personal ornament and as an object with protective and ritually efficacious properties. Small, pierced beads and pendants such as this example were commonly worn or deposited in funerary contexts and are often interpreted as both markers of social status and portable amulets. The stone’s green coloration was especially prized as a symbol of growth and vitality; historical sources and ethnohistoric accounts attribute a range of medicinal and spiritual qualities to jade, which ancient peoples believed could assist in dream interpretation, healing, and the mediation of the spiritual world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Jadeite \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e bead diameter 5\/8 in. (16 mm); overall length as strung 19 in. (48 cm) on modern cord \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Excellent. Intact bead with uniform high polish; minor surface wear consistent with age. Drilled for suspension and strung as a pendant on a modern cord with 18K gold terminals. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private Long Island, New York collection, previously in the private collection of Nancy and John Hyde Devoe, New York City and New Jersey, acquired in the 1950s - 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51768861688111,"sku":"PJ2502","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2502_4.jpg?v=1757826445"},{"product_id":"pa2501","title":"A Pre-Columbian Green Agate Toucan Amulet, Tairona Culture, ca. 500 - 1000 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis artfully carved amulet has taken unique advantage of the natural variations found in this gorgeous green moss agate. The rich dark stone is skillfully carved to portray a toucan, the head slightly raised, and the long beak, cleverly designated by a natural white border, is of a lighter green and features touches of yellow to the tip. The body has incised lines to infer wings, while the base is pierced for stringing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong the Tairona, whose culture flourished in the Caribbean coastal plain and foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia, leaders and shaman believed that they could use bodily adornments in the form of symbolic animals - jaguars as well as crocodiles, birds, and others - to demonstrate prowess as well as cross earthly boundaries into the realm of the deities. Moss agate’s living, “mossy” inclusions likely added symbolic potency in addition to its visual appeal. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Green \"moss\" agate \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Height: 1 inch (2.5 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Intact and in excellent condition overall. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Collection of Joel Lloyd, NYC., acquired 1940s - 1950s, then by descent to his daughter.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Marshall Sklar","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51805875568943,"sku":"PA2501","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/e0bdc98ce87c30f0c877d66d89b4789f.jpg?v=1755879073"},{"product_id":"pp2313","title":"A Moche Seated Noble Effigy Vessel, Moche II, ca. 200 - 400 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eA finely molded polychrome effigy vessel depicting a seated nobleman on a rectangular throne, executed in the established Moche repertoire of the Early–Middle Classic period. The figure is shown with legs crossed and hands resting on his knees, wearing a broad-rimmed headdress with side lappets and large ear spools. The face is carefully modeled and painted, the eyes and other features accented with black and white pigments, producing the lifelike, individualized effect characteristic of Moche portrait ceramics. The vessel employs a rear stirrup spout, which is a functional and typological hallmark of Moche ceramic technology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c\/strong\u003e: Moche potters were consummate specialists in mold-made and hand-modeled ceramics. The rear stirrup spout, seen here, reduced surface evaporation when the vessel contained liquids and facilitated efficient pouring.  It also became an aesthetic device, integrated with anthropomorphic and zoomorphic forms. The sitter’s regalia of headdress, lappets, and ear spools identifies him as a person of rank. Portrait vessels such as this are often interpreted as commemorative or funerary objects tied to elite identity, ritual performances, or ancestral veneration. The use of polychrome paint to emphasize facial features is typical of Moche portraiture of the Moche II phase. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Clay, polychrome \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eHeight: 6 3\/4 in (17.1 cm); Width: 3 5\/8 in (9.2 cm)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Spout reattached with restoration over the breaklines, small probe hole in the left side of the throne, otherwise intact and in very good condition overall. A very appealing example. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e Private collection of a Connecticut attorney. Acquired from the New York trade in 2013 and previously in the collection of Dr. John E. Frost, Houston, TX.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51865064046895,"sku":"PP2313","price":2500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/2328b0c621c835689609832da1a4191d.jpg?v=1758135473"},{"product_id":"pj2413","title":"A Sinu Gold Nose ring on Beaded Necklace, ca. 800 - 1500 CE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis crescent-shaped Sinú nasal ornament is formed from a single thin sheet of hammered gold and features a raised central ridge and a repoussé beaded border following the outer curve. This elegant lunate form, worn originally through the septum, represents a classic ornament type from the Sinú region of northern Colombia. Such pieces were emblems of status and ritual identity, crafted from fine gold alloy and designed to catch the light during ceremonial display.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe nosering is now suspended as a pendant from a tightly twisted four-strand necklace composed of small, closely set greenstone disc beads. The bead strands display a spectrum of green hues, suggesting the use of serpentine, chrysoprase, or other regional greenstones. These materials were carefully selected for visual harmony, demonstrating the precision and aesthetic sensibility of Pre-Columbian beadmakers. The necklace has been reassembled on modern wire for stability, but all components are ancient. The combination of luminous gold and subtly varied greenstone exemplifies the Sinú artisans’ mastery of contrasting textures and colors to achieve visual harmony. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMedium:\u003c\/b\u003e Gold, greenstone beads \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/b\u003e Overall Length: 21 ins (53 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition:\u003c\/b\u003e Excellent. The gold nose ring is intact with minor surface wear, to one edge that does not detract.  All the beads are intact and in excellent condition overall. A lovely and very wearable necklace. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eProvenance:\u003c\/b\u003e New Jersey private collection, acquired from Gerardo Roca, FL., in the 1980s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Arte Primitivo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51923693371695,"sku":"PJ2413","price":5950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/files\/PJ2413.jpg?v=1760303224"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0234\/5339\/collections\/PP2314.jpg?v=1767281866","url":"https:\/\/sandsoftimedc.com\/en-it\/collections\/pre-columbian\/sculpture.oembed","provider":"Sands of Time Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}