Description:

Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Costa Rica, Caribbean Watershed, Linea Vieja, Period III, ca. 500 BCE to 500 CE. A remarkable greenstone pendant in the form of a bird in profile with a long, spiraling bill and a drill hole for suspension at its neck. "Beak-bird" pendants like this are typical of the Linea Vieja area, located in the Caribbean Watershed of Costa Rica. Characterized by representing the profile of a bird with long, exaggerated, and unrealistic bills, some of the beaks extend more than half the body of the represented bird; others, as this one, go further, creating circular or rectangular spirals. Carved from a single piece of greenstone, the production of this object involved several different techniques. The bill’s spiral shape was made with the use of a string saw, a cutting tool consisting of a cord made out of plant fibers or strips of animal skin held tight by a piece of curved wood, used in combination with water and abrasive materials like sand or ground stone. Size: 1.5" W x 1.8" H (3.8 cm x 4.6 cm)

A similar greenstone bird pendant can be found at Dumbarton Oaks under accession number PC.B.255. Another bird pendant hammered $6,931 (now equivalent to $11,400.77) at Christie's New York on November 12, 2004 (lot 87, Live Auction 1537, "Important Pre-Columbian Art A European Private Collection").

Provenance: private Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA collection, acquired 1969 to 1970; ex-Dr. Jorge Lineas, San Jose, Costa Rica

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#187824

  • Condition: Light surface wear as shown, but otherwise intact and in excellent condition with smooth surfaces. Wearable as a pendant.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

October 18, 2024 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 27.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000