Pre-Columbian, Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Nicoya Region, ca. 500 BCE to 500 CE. This marvelous pendant was expertly carved from a gorgeous translucent piece of jade boasting vibrant blue-green hues and is laterally perforated for suspension. The gecko form, with it exceedingly long tail, angled limbs, and expressive, wide-eyed visage, harkens the lush tropical environs of Central America. Costa Rica is one of the two regions along with Mesoamerica in which jade was extensively carved during the Pre-Columbian era. Custom stand. Size: 5" L (12.7 cm); 5.625" H (14.3 cm) on stand.

Geckos more than likely impressed the indigenous peoples with their remarkable qualities just as much as they impress us today. For instance, these little lizard-like creatures have the uncanny ability to camouflage themselves, changing their coloration to blend in with their surroundings while hunting for food, even transforming their hues to reflect their emotions just like a mood stone. Of course, gecko's are also known for their ability to cling to all matter of surfaces, scurry in any direction and hang upside down from tree canopies like trapeze artists. What's more, a gecko can detach its tail and grow a new one whenever it wishes. If a predator is fast upon a gecko's tail, this clever critter can just leave the beast something to gnaw upon while he escapes. Last but not least is the gecko's ability to change its pupil's aperture when encountering bright sunlight, so that it becomes a single vertical band of pinhole openings and mimics the color of its skin. These petite reptiles also have keen night vision; just imagine, a gecko's eye is 350 times more sensitive to light than our human eye! This probably comes in pretty handy when battling to survive in the dark jungles of Costa Rica. Living up to all these amazing characteristics and behaviors is the exquisite aesthetic of this jade pendant, replete with the utmost artistry and technique and carved from an inherently breathtaking specimen of jade.

Provenance: private California, USA collection acquired over fifteen years ago

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