A Costa Rican Jade Locust/Grasshopper, ca. 300 - 900 CE
PJ2154
- This object qualifies for free USA shipping and a flat rate fee of $60 if shipping internationally.
This finely speckled sage-green jade pendant is carved into the form of a locust or grasshopper, with arms and legs bent against the front of the elongated body, the small head turned slightly to the right with drilled eyes and mouth, a ridge carved along its back below a small drilled suspension hole.
Jade pendants were revered as status symbols throughout the ancient Americas, from southern Mexico to the Northern Andes. Considered the ultimate "Dream Stone," jade was thought 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 peaceful death, and was considered a powerful healing stone. The vibrant green variations are a symbol of growth and vitality, which makes it a stone that stands for wealth and longevity. Shamans and other clan leaders wore pendants carved into symbolic animal forms to demonstrate prowess, illustrate the wearer’s clan, or identify a shaman’s alter ego, as well as other talismanic properties such as protection and good fortune.
Medium: Jade
Dimensions: Height: 2 inches (5 cm)
Condition: Intact and in excellent condition overall with no chips, cracks or breaks. A very fine example.
Provenance: 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.
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