Description:

Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico, Guerrero region, Mezcala culture, ca. 100 BCE to 300 CE. An adorable and quite rare quartz amulet in the form of a frog, seated upon 4 legs with his pointed snout raised toward the heavens. Pierced with annular eyes, his large head tapers to a petite posterior, resting upon bent hind legs. The Aztecs viewed frogs as a symbol of water, rain, and fertility - likely due to its proclivity for wet habitats and numerous offspring. They were also connected with notions of childbirth, since these amphibians typically lay large amounts of eggs and in general crouch in a position that was viewed as similar to that of a woman in labor. Therefore, works like this may have been created to help channel such power related to agricultural and human fertility. Size: 1.4" L x 0.8" W x 0.9" H (3.6 cm x 2 cm x 2.3 cm)

Cf. Cleveland Museum of Art, 1995.98.

Provenance: private Golden, Colorado, USA collection, by descent, acquired in Mexico before 1970

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#176063

  • Condition: Chip to left eye and some light surface wear, but otherwise intact and nicely preserved with earthen deposits in recessed areas.

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January 12, 2023 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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