Description:

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Proto-Maya to Maya culture, ca. 300 BCE to 900 CE. An endearing bird pendant carved from a piece of Spondylus shell, the underside has a piercing hole for suspension - the area is worn from age. The eyes have shallow sockets and may have been inlaid with contrasting stone or shell shards. Spondylus shell is a sacred material and carries numerous symbolic meanings; a symbol of fertility and elite social status - and this bird may have originally been special pendant or amulets to bestow protection upon the wearer. Size: 1.75" L x 0.8" W x 0.5" H (4.4 cm x 2 cm x 1.3 cm)

Provenance: private Matrisciano collection, Thousand Oaks, California, USA, before 2002; ex-Malter Galleries, Encino, California, USA

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#176466

  • Condition: Surface pitting and natural shell ossification, chips and nicks to upper body and piercing to underside. Light mineral deposits in recessed areas. No repairs or restoration.

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June 22, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$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