Description:

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico/Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. A grey-green jade spoon in an interesting form. A long, rectangular trough is at the top, pierced through the back for suspension. A thin trough connects this to a round bowl at the bottom, which would hang down on the chest when worn during shamanic rituals. Psychoactive substances seem to have been used in ritual near-universally in ancient Mesoamerica, as recorded by the Spanish when they arrived. Items found through archaeological investigations attest to how important they were for ritual and healing. Size: 5" W x 3" H (12.7 cm x 7.6 cm)

This necklace was made by string cutting, drilling, and using sandstone as an abrasive, all remarkable achievements, given that jadeite is an incredibly hard stone to work. Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire the material, bringing jadeite from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. Jadeite seems to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that jade was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Ian Arundel collection, California, USA

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#123604

  • Condition: Wear to surface as shown.

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June 8, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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