Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, Colima, ca. 300 BCE to 300 CE. A shallow, speckled greenstone carved vessel. It stands on charming tripod legs terminating in smiling zoomorphic faces - frogs, toads, turtles, or other lizards with simple low-relief features. The bowl has a reinformed rim. This would have been placed in a tomb with an offering inside of it. Size: 2" W x 2" H (5.1 cm x 5.1 cm)

The value of greenstone (colloquially called jade) for ancient people lay in its symbolic power: perhaps its color was associated with water and vegetation; later, the Maya would place jade beads in the mouths of the dead. Many scholars have argued that the demand for jadeite contributed to the rise of long distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica.

Provenance: Ex-Private New York Collection; Ex-Private Old Long Island New York Collection.

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#120919

Excellent, with very clear facial details on the legs.