Maya, Guatemala
Circa 500 to 800 AD
Jade
Height 2 3/8 in (6 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Honolulu, HI; Arte Primitivo, NY, Lot 101, December 9, 2013
Jade was the most precious material in the Maya world, outranking all other substances in its association with royalty, fertility, and divine authority, and pendants of this type were worn by rulers and high nobles as markers of their connection to sacred power. This Classic period pendant depicts a chief or ruler in the frontal facing convention characteristic of Maya elite portraiture, with circular ear ornaments and headdress elements identifying the subject as a person of high status. The carving combines frontal portraiture with the symbolic vocabulary of Classic Maya elite identity in a compact form suited for suspension and display.
Jade pendants depicting rulers were among the most personal objects in the Maya noble's material repertoire, worn during life and frequently interred with their owners as essential equipment for the afterlife. The Arte Primitivo auction provenance from December 2013 and the Honolulu private collection history provide a clear and documented ownership sequence.
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Maya, Guatemala
Circa 500 to 800 AD
Jade
Height 2 3/8 in (6 cm)
Provenance: Private collection, Honolulu, HI; Arte Primitivo, NY, Lot 101, December 9, 2013
Jade was the most precious material in the Maya world, outranking all other substances in its association with royalty, fertility, and divine authority, and pendants of this type were worn by rulers and high nobles as markers of their connection to sacred power. This Classic period pendant depicts a chief or ruler in the frontal facing convention characteristic of Maya elite portraiture, with circular ear ornaments and headdress elements identifying the subject as a person of high status. The carving combines frontal portraiture with the symbolic vocabulary of Classic Maya elite identity in a compact form suited for suspension and display.
Jade pendants depicting rulers were among the most personal objects in the Maya noble's material repertoire, worn during life and frequently interred with their owners as essential equipment for the afterlife. The Arte Primitivo auction provenance from December 2013 and the Honolulu private collection history provide a clear and documented ownership sequence.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
