**First Time At Auction**

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico Yucatan to Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. An incredible and expressive olive shell that is carefully openwork carved into a skull or a face near death. Both tips are pierced for suspension for threading as a necklace or attaching to clothing as a tinkler. Shells were deeply symbolic to the Maya; shells came from the sea, which was the primordial space from which the world of humans originated and the watery underworld, Xibalba. The gaunt skeletal face with empty eye sockets and gaping / screaming mouth on this shell certainly compliments the death theme, and skulls are a popular motif in Maya art. Size: 2" L x 0.8" W (5.1 cm x 2 cm); 3.8" H (9.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Shells also seem to have been closely connected to ideas of wind, moisture, breath, and music when large conches were carved into trumpets - the musician's lifeforce breath was then transformed into a powerful sound. Shells, especially olive shells, like this example, often served as jewelry as well as offerings in burials and as dedications to buildings. In fact, it is believed that the Maya used the olive shell as a glyph symbol, and they may have worn the shells as tinklers on their clothing - this shell has a surprisingly musical quality when tapped.

For a similar collection of these skull shells, please see the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) website, accession number: 2001.272.28.1-19.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Edward H. Merrin Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, 1968 - 1969; ex-New York City, New York, USA collection

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.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#177572

Intact and excellent. Old inventory number on verso surface. Light mineral deposits on surface.