Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. An exemplary set of Maya adornments; a lovely jade necklace and two enormous jadeite earspools. Suspended on a strand of black braided rope, the wearable necklace features thirty-eight carved-jade beads, including thirty-four sizable nugget beads that hang in the center, two barrel beads with decorative black frays of rope sprouting from their interiors midway between the central beads and the ends, and a cylindrical bead at each end fit with yellow string emerging from their centers. Alternatively, the impressive earspools have been skillfully carved from jadeite in characteristic openwork form to present a lustrous sheen. Each circular accessory features annular peripheral edges, a rounded interior gap, and a protruding plug backing. Size (necklace): 31" L (78.7 cm); (largest bead): 1.5" Diameter (3.8 cm); (each ear spools: 3" Diameter (7.6 cm); (display case): 13.375" W x 12.625" H (34 cm x 32.1 cm)

Presenting rich hues of celadon and seafoam green with natural striations and spots of sage, cream, butterscotch, and dark green, these gorgeous examples are all sewn to a black felt backing and come with a custom display case.

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. Ear spools are often shown in profile in Maya art, usually with a bead or serpent emerging from that central hollow plug; this is interpreted to be a symbolic supernatural passageway for the breath of the soul to travel through.

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

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#162194

All beads are ancient on modern stringing. Expected nicks to rims of earspools, as well as some lightly abraded areas commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with nice earthen deposits in recessed areas.