Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1200 to 400 BCE. A magnificent pair of deep blue-green jade blood letting perforators depicting were-jaguar figures with downturned jaguar mouths, phalange ears, wide noses, and jowly cheeks on elongated, misshapen heads. Perforators were used in sacrificial rites that involved drawing blood from various parts of the body to secure fertility of the land as well as the health and livelihood of a community. Note that these examples lack eyes; this suggests that these perforators were used to pierce eyes. Exquisite work, fine carving, magical iconography on this piece! Custom stand. Size: each measures ~ 3" H (7.6 cm); 3.75" H (9.5 cm) on stand

Scholars believe that bloodletting rituals were understood by the Olmec as a way to communicate with the ancestors. Jade and ceramic perforators as well as representations of such paraphernalia on Stelae and in iconography provide evidence of its practice among the Olmec. Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s pinpointed the source of "Olmec blue" jadeite at being in the lowland Motagua River near the modern day border of Guatemala and Honduras; stone from this source was carved and traded widely throughout early Mesoamerica. These would have been an exceedingly valuable and rare pieces of ceremonial art.

Provenance: private R.D. collection, Long Beach, California, USA collection, acquired over 25 years from various major galleries

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#124324

One repaired from three pieces, the other choice.