Pre-Columbian, southern Mexico to Guatemala, Proto-Maya to Maya culture, ca. 300 BCE to 900 CE. An exceedingly rare and endearing bird pendant or pectoral carved from thick slab of giant clam shell adorned with a mosaic of spondylus shell representing the upper and lower beaks. Turquoise for the tail feathers along with additional small elements of turquoise for the eyes and as a small section of each beak. Two suspension holes toward the central base.Birds and bird feathers were so highly revered by ancient cultures. Birds were owned and traded as a symbol of wealth and status and often represented on Maya ceramics and stone work. Size: 8.125" W x 3" H (20.6 cm x 7.6 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA collection; ex-Minerva Gallery; ex-Benjamin Vega, California, USA, acquired in 2006 to 2007; ex-Gene and Virginia George, brought to the USA from 1961 to 1966

#177916

Body repaired from 2 sections, quite probable that areas of turquoise and spondylus shell have been reattached but appears to be original. Wonderful, liberal root marked surface and surface deposits on the mosaic elements.