**Originally Listed At $1500**

Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, ca 550 to 900 CE. A wonderful assortment of six hand-carved adornments from the ancient Maya: four jade pieces and two jadeite. All display smoothly carved surfaces with gorgeous natural hues of celadon, sage, cream, and caramel. Two present as jade ear spools of a rounded form, with a flared rim and a cylindrical, hollow plug. The third exhibits a discoid form with a single petite drill hole near its periphery for suspension. More tan in color than the rest, the largest piece is a carved-jade rectangle with nice convex surfaces and two annular drill holes. The last two both boast a fang-like shape, each with one side convex, the other concave, as well as a circular indentation towards their thicker end and a singular drill hole to be worn as jewelry. All of these could easily be strung to be worn as adornments or displayed in their included custom case. Size of largest: 1.125" W x 3.875" H (2.9 cm x 9.8 cm); Size of included custom display case: 12.25" W x 8.25" H (31.1 cm x 21 cm)

Jade was revered by the Maya not only for its beauty, but also because it had spiritual power - it was believed to be the embodiment of the wind and the "breath" that formed the Maya soul. In addition, scholars argue that its color was associated with water and vegetation. While the Maya used jade to create impressive jewelry, we also know that they placed jade beads in the mouths of the dead, perhaps as a means of extending the circle of life. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that the demand for jade contributed to the rise of long distance trading networks as well as the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica.

Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s

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.

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#162396

Expected surface wear with some small losses to the peripheries of the earspools and light abrasions to rectangle. Otherwise, intact and excellent.