Pre-Columbian, Olmec culture, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. Hand-carved from grey-black-green serpentine, a stone so named because of its snakeskin-like appearance, this is a pectoral pendant, square in form, with a projecting baby's face rising hauntingly from one side. Twin perforations at the upper corners would have been used to attach it to clothing or a string. The eyes, nostrils, and mouth have been similarly drilled. A jade example of a similar pendant has been found with Maya glyphs carved into it, indicating the great reverence that the Maya had for the artwork of their predecessors. Size: 1.75" W x 1.9" H (4.4 cm x 4.8 cm)

The Olmec are famous for their human depictions; as the first major civilization in this fertile area, their artwork inspired the civilizations that came after them to the point that we think some of them even revered Olmec artwork and kept it as heirlooms. Infants are a recurring theme from Olmec art, where humans are often depicted with "baby face," with plump bodies and chubby, pouty facial features. The shape of their heads - like this one - has been attributed to deliberate skull shaping.

Provenance: private Kentucky, USA collection; ex collection of Raphael Cosme, originally acquired in the early 1970s

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#126519

Small chip on one corner.