Pre-Columbian, Central America, Costa Rica, ca. 250 to 800 CE. An exceptional Costa Rican jade celt carved from a beautiful pale green, somewhat translucent jade, expertly string cut with an intricately detailed figure wearing an elaborate headdress with a wide band of incised interlaced rope/ribbon pattern punctuated by pierced marks - above this twin animorphic heads, back to back and in profile. Below the figure's eyes and nose is a crocodilean mask featuring pierced eyes and nostrils and skin incised with chevrons and striations. Altogether this iconography suggests that the artist was representing a transitioning shaman/crocodile figure. The crocodile being the oldest (approximately 55 million years old) of the Crocodilia order (comprised of crocodiles, smaller alligators, and yet smaller caymans) was understood as a crocodilian earth monster in the Pre-Columbian world, and is oftentimes shown giving rise to what was known as the World Tree. Partial to a watery habitat, the crocodile was also a metaphor for fertility. Beneath the crocodile's snout the figure's hands meet, fingertip to fingertip. Quite a spectacular hybrid form! Double perforations behind the crocodile's eyes for suspension. Custom, museum quality stand. Size: 1.25" W x 5.625" H (3.2 cm x 14.3 cm); 6.125" H (3.2 cm x 15.6 cm) on stand

Provenance: Ex-Kentucky collection

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#118220

Intact and excellent. Small linear detail on left hand is not a fissure, but rather veining inherent to the stone.