A few examples of appraisal values for
OLMEC

• TALL OLMEC SERPENTINE STANDING MALE
  TALL OLMEC SERPENTINE STANDING MALE FIGUREPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A finely carved and string cut serpentine figure standing with both arms held to the sides and knees slightly bent, presenting a characteristically elongated head with a narrow brow indicative of cranial deformation. Olmec traditionally wore tight-fitting helmets, an expressive visage comprised of slit eyes, a furrowed brow line, a prominent well-defined nose, and a large mouth with a raised upper lip. To the Olmecs, stone figures like this example (as well as their masks and maskettes) carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today. A wonderful example with well-executed string cut features. Size: 3.6" W x 9" H (9.1 cm x 22.9 cm); 9.25" H (23.5 cm) on included custom stand. The first major civilization in Meso-America was that of the Olmec. They established themselves in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico around 1500 BCE. The Olmec were very advanced, with monumental architecture, colossal statuary, votive statues,, and an aristocracy that enjoyed fine objects of personal adornment carved from stone as well. Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #175082 Condition: Polished infill material in a few scattered areas of body and feet, but does not detract from the overall presentation. Minor abrasions and nicks commensurate with age, with light earthen deposits, otherwise in excellent condition.
• PRE-COLUMBIAN OLMEC TERRACOTTA
  PRE-COLUMBIAN OLMEC TERRACOTTA VESSEL, EX-KOMOR c. 1000-800 BCE, Las Bocas, Mexico, the red clay jar with glyph decoration and rounded bottom, resting on lucite ring, with old Mathias Komor label and accompanied with copy of original invoice, 7"h x 7"dia
• *An Olmec Style Pottery Mask with
  *An Olmec Style Pottery Mask with helmet previously broken and repaired. Height 7 1/4 inches.
• Mezcala Culture Squatting
  Mezcala Culture Squatting Figure, Mexico, 300-100 B.C., carved dark green stone, the head with Olmecoid-trait features of down-turned grimacing mouth and flared nostrils, the body with legs drawn up to the body and hands hugging the torso, h. 3-3/4".
• A Pre-Columbian Painted Pottery
  A Pre-Columbian Painted Pottery Effigy Vessel c. 200 B.C. Olmec globular body with loop handles (one broken) and a cylindrical head-form neck with ear spools height 6 3/4 in.; accompanied by a 1976 Certificate of Authenticity from Ellenda Wolfestieg.
• A Group of Three Olmec Pottery
  A Group of Three Olmec Pottery Figures c. 1500-300 BC. the first modeled with large hips squatting the second standing with large breasts and wearing a double crested headdress the third standing with legs partly separated height 3 1/4 in. 3 3/4 in. and 3 in. respectively. Provenance: With Messrs. Ralph Fabacher and Higford Griffiths; thence to Mrs. Alice Hogg Hanszen; thence to Museum of Fine Arts Houston 1965.
• Pre-Colombian terracotta head,
  Pre-Colombian terracotta head, possibly Olmec 4 1/4 in. H., with a wooden stand
• NEAR-MINIATURE OLMEC STANDING
  NEAR-MINIATURE OLMEC STANDING FIGUREPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. An exquisite, finely carved, near-miniature, blue-green mottled stone figure, standing in a characteristically stiff pose with long arms and shorter, separated, slightly bent legs with protruding knees, presenting hallmark Olmec features including an elongated head, a jowly "babyface" visage with a downturned jaguar-like mouth, slightly slanted almond-shaped eyes, and phalange ears. A stupendous piece in outstanding condition. Custom stand. Size: 1.125" W x 2.5" H (2.9 cm x 6.4 cm); 3.5" H (8.9 cm) on included custom stand. Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. An exquisite, finely carved, near-miniature, blue-green jade were-jaguar figurine, standing in a characteristically stiff pose with long arms and shorter, separated, slightly bent legs with protruding knees, presenting hallmark Olmec features including an elongated head, a jowly "babyface" visage with a downturned jaguar-like mouth, slightly slanted almond-shaped eyes, and phalange ears. A stupendous piece in outstanding condition. Custom stand Provenance: ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, , New York, USA; ex-Sotheby's, May 19, 1987, lot 94; ex-Alex Gordon estate, New York City, New York, USA All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #175545 Condition: Staining to the stone from burial in iron rich environment, else choice.
• FINE OLMEC STONE STANDING
  FINE OLMEC STONE STANDING WERE-JAGUAR FIGUREPre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A magnificent Olmec figurine expertly carved from beautiful deep black stone that demonstrates superb technique, fine-tuned to create the characteristic were-jaguar face. This statuette stands upright and nude, his legs delineated and long arms hanging to his sides from broad, slightly hunched shoulders. String cut grooves create the V-shaped abdominal area, and chest pectoral muscles. The elongated head juts forward and stands out for its expressive face, due to the wide-open eyes with a pair of deeper drilled cavities under arched brows, a broad nose with flared nostrils, also deeply drilled over large down turned lips that seem to snarl. There are also perforations through the ears for suspension of ornaments. Scholars have proposed that misshapen heads as we see in this example are indicative of the artificial cranial deformation practiced by the Olmec peoples. Size: 5.25" L x 1.75" W (13.3 cm x 4.4 cm); 5.5" H (14 cm) on included custom stand. To the Olmecs, figurines like this example carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today; but the portrayal of human and feline features, indicates a transformative state, and likely represents a shaman or a divine ruler going into a supernatural state. The supernatural or divine qualities were also perhaps enhanced with inlaid glimmering shell or stones in the drilled eyes to add a lifelike quality to the visage. Jaguar imagery symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world; hence, warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World. Jaguars were also believed to travel between the watery realms of the Underworld and the earthly Aboveworld, and shamans could gain this power to travel between supernatural regions by transforming into these animals. For a similar example please see the Dallas Museum of Art's website, object number: 1973.25. Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection, acquired April 19, 2020; ex-AriMeca Gallery, New York City, New York, USA All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #170660 Condition: Left arm reattached near shoulder, faint hair line fissure visible. Chip on the right shoulder, but the rest is intact and excellent with sharp facial details and earthen deposits in recessed areas.
• 2 ANCIENT OLMEC PRE-COLOMBIAN
  2 ANCIENT OLMEC PRE-COLOMBIAN CLAY FACE SCULPTURESA lot of 2 ancient Olmec culture Pre-Colombian clay face sculptures mounted on a clear acrylic display base. Found in the La Venta pre-Colombian Archaeological area. Measures approx. 5" length x 2 3/8" width x 1 1/4" height overall including base.
• OLMEC STONE SHAMAN / JAGUAR
  OLMEC STONE SHAMAN / JAGUAR TRANSFORMATION, EX-SCHMITT**Originally Listed At $3000** Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A captivating greenstone figure shown in the process of a shamanic transformation into a jaguar with mesmerizing, feline eyes and a were-jaguar mouth that gapes open to showcase the still-growing sharp fangs. His arms lengthen and his shoulders jut back as though shaping the front legs of the beast with his left hand already resembling a paw. The figure's standing pose begins to bend at the knees to form hindlegs, as his back slopes forward, moving him toward the crouch of a quadruped. In addition to his transforming body, his head is quite interestingly shaped: lengthened at the top as characteristic of the Olmec, but also uniquely extending backward. Pear-shaped heads, like this figure's, were a sign of high status among the Olmec and were likely due to an artificial cranial deformation. Size: 1.8" W x 6.1" H (4.6 cm x 15.5 cm) To the Olmecs, statuettes like this example carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today; however, scholars surmise that the color green was associated with vibrant growth, renewal, and given the cyclical conception of life and death, rejuvenation after death. A breathtaking work of art, replete with strong technique, intriguing symbolism, and an inherently beautiful greenstone mottled with veining of various shades of green, white, and black hues. A similar Olmec stone figure was sold by Sotheby's New York for $12,000 on May 17th, 2007 as lot 57 (The Saul And Marsha Stanoff Collection, Sale Number N08386) and again at Arte Primitivo for $12,500 as lot 12 on September 28th, 2022. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #174975 Condition: Losses to proper right arm and right side of right leg and top of head. Minor chip to top left side of head, stable hairline fissure to head, and a few small nicks and light scratches to surface. Otherwise, very nice with great remaining detail and earthen deposits in areas.
• REMARKABLE OLMEC POTTERY WAILING
  REMARKABLE OLMEC POTTERY WAILING BABY FIGUREPre-Columbian, Mexico, Olmec culture, ca. 10th to 6th century BCE. A dramatic terracotta figure of a seated human baby, posed with legs akimbo and both hands resting on chubby thighs. Enveloped in lovely remains of white, beige, and gray slip on a red ground, the child presents a round belly, a recessed navel, and no visible sex. The plump arms and legs terminate in petite feet and hands that emphasize the shape of the body. The sizeable head displays the expressive visage of a crying infant - with narrow, squinting eyes, a broad nose, and a large, gaping mouth showing a few upper teeth and full lips. A pair of naturalistic ears flank the face, each featuring pierced lobes for suspending ornaments, sitting just below the elongated forehead. Note the artist's careful attention to detail, as evident by not only the delineated fingers and fleshy folds of the body and limbs, but also the realism of the countenance - portrayed so vividly the viewer is left surprised their own ears do not ring with the piercing wails of a child! Size: 14.3" W x 12.8" H (36.3 cm x 32.5 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. Figures of this style are known as "baby face," with plump bodies and chubby, pouty facial features. Infants are a recurring theme from Olmec art, and this one would likely have once been white-slipped to match other known examples. The shape of their heads - like this one - have been attributed to deliberate skull shaping. For an interesting article about Olmec baby figures see "Olmec Babies as Early Portraiture in the Americas" by James Doyle, Assistant Curator, Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas, April 17, 2015. Cf. Yale University Art Gallery, ILE2009.20.3, Gardiner Museum in Toronto, G83.1.10, and Kimbell Art Museum, AP 1971.02. An Olmec pottery seated baby of similar size and form sold for $89,625 at Christie's, New York "Important Pre-Columbian Art: A European Private Collection" auction (Live Auction 1537, November 12th, 2004, lot 12); another sold for $276,000 at Sotheby's, New York "The Saul And Marsha Stanoff Collection" auction (sale number N08386, May 17, 2007, lot 51). Provenance: private Hidden Valley Lake, California, USA collection, purchased on July 11, 2019; ex-Artemis Gallery; ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA, acquired before 1974 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #170462 Condition: Figure is repaired and restored from numerous pieces and in the process was refired (which eliminates the option of conducting a TL test), with overpaint along the repair lines and approximately 5% new material. Much of the original pigment remains on the figure. When originally acquired by Artemis the piece was unassembled in a cardboard box where it had sat for almost 50 years. There were areas of root marks and liberal dendrites that were removed by the initial buyer during the restoration process.
• A PRE-COLUMBIAN OLMEC STYLE JADE
  A PRE-COLUMBIAN OLMEC STYLE JADE FACE MASK A Pre-Columbian Olmec style Jade face mask, 9"h Provenance: Collection of Gerald A Burnley, Santa Rosa, CA, acquired in Mexico, circa 1950
• MEXICAN OLMEC STYLE ROTUND HOLLOW
  MEXICAN OLMEC STYLE ROTUND HOLLOW SEATED FIGUREearthenware painted in red, white, and black pigment, with striated topknot and bun, 8 in. Provenance: Merrin Gallery, New York, 1990; David Bramhall, New York; Private Collection, New York Condition: loss and repair to proper right shoulder and proper left knee, cracks and repairs throughout legs, arms, and base, infill on bottom of proper left leg and toe, some repair and infill possibly later, loss to pigment
• FINE OLMEC GREENSTONE CROUCHING
  FINE OLMEC GREENSTONE CROUCHING FIGUREPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1000 BCE. An exemplary Olmec figure, finely carved from a rich greenstone of mottled hues of midnight green, viridian, and black with natural inclusions in shades of cream and caramel. Depicted crouching in fetal position with legs together, the ancient figure presents bent legs, of which we can only see the shins, flat feet with delineated toes, a thick torso, and attenuated arms bent at the elbows. Both hands grasp his sizeable head as he gazes forward with an intense, trance-like expression displaying ovoid eyes with incised pupils below a straight brow, a projecting nose, and a wide mouth held agape. The figure's elongated head was a sign of high status most likely due to an artificial cranial deformation, as the Olmec traditionally wore tight-fitting helmets. Size: 1" W x 2.1" H (2.5 cm x 5.3 cm); 3.2" H (8.1 cm) on included custom stand. To the Olmecs, statuettes like this example carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today. Scholars surmise that some of their meaning is derived from their green color, which was associated with vibrant growth, renewal, and - given the cyclical conception of life and death - rejuvenation after death. A breathtaking work of art, replete with strong technique, intriguing symbolism, and an inherently beautiful greenstone. Provenance: private Atlanta, Georgia, USA collection, purchased in 1989; ex-Gary Coleman collection, purchased in 1972; ex-Kenneth Klassen collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #168803 Condition: A few miniscule nicks to head and legs. Remains of adhesive material from display on bottom of feet. Otherwise, intact and excellent with smoothly carved surfaces, nice remaining detail, and light earthen deposits in recessed areas.
• EXEMPLARY OLMEC RIO PESQUERO
  EXEMPLARY OLMEC RIO PESQUERO GREENSTONE MASKETTEPre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 600 BCE. In a word, wow! Finely carved and string-cut from a sage-hued greenstone with natural swirls of butterscotch and caramel, an incredibly expressive depiction of a were-jaguar transformation mask with a square jaw, ovoid eyes beneath a narrowed brow, a curved nose with broad nostrils, and a rectangular mouth with flared upper and lower lips, making for a feline mouth. The usual headband is not present, perhaps to allow room on the stone's surface for that incredibly dramatic expression. The mouth is enveloped by prominent nasolabial folds that act as a parenthesis emphasizing the upper row of teeth that protrude from the flared lips of the beast. Lengthy ear flaps flank the zoomorphic visage, each adorned with an annular drill hole, likely for suspending ornaments. Additional perforations at the peripheries were created presumably for attachment. A truly exceptional full maskette! Size: 3.7" W x 4.5" H (9.4 cm x 11.4 cm); 6" H (15.2 cm) on included custom stand. The attention to detail on this piece is quite impressive. Note the expressive lips and cleft palette of the jaguar mouth, the full nose with nostrils pierced through to the verso, and the stylized elliptical-shaped eyes. To the Olmecs, masks and maskettes like this example carried many meanings, not all of which are obvious to us today; however, scholars surmise that the color green was associated with vibrant growth, renewal, and given the cyclical conception of life and death, rejuvenation after death. Additionally, jaguar imagery symbolized power and might throughout the Pre-Columbian world; hence, warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this king of beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World. Research in the late 1990s and early 2000s pinpointed the source of what is colloquially referred to as "Olmec blue" jade in the lowland Motagua River near the modern-day border of Guatemala and Honduras; greenstone from this source was carved and traded widely throughout early Mesoamerica. The value of greenstone and jade for ancient people lay in their symbolic power: perhaps green was associated with water and vegetation; later, the Maya would place greenstone and jade beads in the mouths of the dead. Many scholars have argued that the demand for greenstone and jade contributed to the rise of long-distance trading networks and to the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica. This greenstone mask would have been regarded as an exceedingly valuable and rare piece of ceremonial art. A similar Olmec greenstone mask was sold by Sotheby's New York for $65,625 on May 16th, 2014 as lot 237 in their African and Oceanic auction (sale number N09146) This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques. Provenance: private Santa Fe, New Mexico USA collection; ex-Allen A. Davis collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired August 12, 2009; ex-private New York, New York, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #164412 Condition: Some expected minor nicks to top and bottom peripheries and a few small chips to verso, commensurate with age. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressively preserved detail. Collection label on verso.
• OLMEC STYLE MASK 8 Olmec style mask
  OLMEC STYLE MASK 8 Olmec style mask 8.5"h
• *A Group of Seven Olmec Style
  *A Group of Seven Olmec Style Carved Stone Masks depicted with various facial expressions. Height of tallest 10 3/4 inches.
• OLMEC GREENSTONE BLOODLETTER -
  OLMEC GREENSTONE BLOODLETTER - HUMMINGBIRDPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 900 to 500 BCE. A charming bloodletting tool called a piercer in the shape of a hummingbird, all hand-carved from mottled blue-green stone with white and beige inclusions. The adorable avian features petite legs tucked beneath the slender body, a pair of drilled eyes, and a massive beak with a once needle-sharp point. With mirror-smooth surface polishing and a pretty presentation, this is a wonderful example of ancient ritual exsanguination! Size: 1.125" L x 0.6" W x 5.25" H (2.9 cm x 1.5 cm x 13.3 cm) The hummingbird - a stunning and unique bird that would have caught the eye of ancient people - was powerfully symbolic in ancient Mesoamerica and is a common feature of Olmec artwork. They are frequently paired with the eagle and hawk, symbols of the sun and warfare - perhaps inspired by the behavior of the real birds, who are territorial and aggressive. Their sharp beaks mimic the bloodletting instruments used in ritual. Unlike the later Maya, we have not found any representations of ritual bloodletting in Olmec art. However, greenstone and ceramic perforators as well as representations of such paraphernalia on stelae and in iconography provide evidence of its practice among the Olmec. For example, a translation of the Epi-Olmec culture's La Mojarra Stela 1 tells of the ruler's ritual bloodletting. Provenance: private Lexington, Kentucky, USA collection; ex-Dr. Jose Medina, Florida, USA, first Dean of University of Florida College of Dentistry, who traveled extensively in the 1960s to 1970s providing indigenous people with Dental care (b.1926 d. 2007), acquired 1960s to 1970s in Mexico and Guatemala All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #179734 Condition: Minor chips and abrasions, with light earthen deposits within some recessed areas, otherwise intact and excellent. Great preservation to overall form, and wonderful surface smoothness throughout.
• *A Group of Three Olmec Style
  *A Group of Three Olmec Style Carved Stone Masks each with a downturned mouth two having conical headdress. Height of tallest 15 inches.
• Mezcala Culture Standing Figure,
  Mezcala Culture Standing Figure, Mexico, Late Preclassic, 300-100 B.C., the type M4-M6 mottled gray/green stone figure having a head facing upwards with subtly molded features above a body with faint incised lines indicating arms held across the rounded chest, h. 6-3/4".
• NECKLACE W/ OLMEC, MEZCALA & MAYA
  NECKLACE W/ OLMEC, MEZCALA & MAYA APPLEGREEN JADE BEADS...**First Time At Auction** Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, Mezcala, & Maya culture, ca. 500 BCE to 900 CE. A beautiful collection of 58 apple green nephrite jade beads from various ancient Mesoamerican cultures. The beads are strung in a balanced arrangement on a modern wire as a wearable necklace with a brass push clasp. The stones are polished into asymmetrical as well as barrel and spherical forms, boasting rich hues that echo the verdant rainforest. Jade was revered by the Maya not only for its beauty, but also because it had spiritual power - it was believed to be the embodiment of the wind and the "breath" that formed the Maya soul. Size of strand: 16.5" L (41.9 cm); central bead: 0.7" L x 0.6" W (1.8 cm x 1.5 cm) 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. The value of 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: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #177521 Condition: Beads are ancient with minor chips and nicks and light mineral deposits. Stung in modern times on a wire with a brass push clasp as a wearable necklace.
• OLMEC / PROTO MAYA BOWL INCISED
  OLMEC / PROTO MAYA BOWL INCISED GLYPHS, EX-SCHMITT**Originally Listed At $600** Pre-Columbian, Mexico to Guatemala, late Olmec to Proto Maya, ca. 300 BCE to 200 CE. An early Maya bowl showing Olmec influence, incised stepped glyphs and slip painted to highlight the interlocking forms. The glyphs on this carving are probably Epi-Olmec or proto-Mayan, also known as Isthmian script. Epi-Olmec, like Mayan, consists of glyphs, often written in lines or columns. Although not all of it has been deciphered, what we know of this language is that it describes religious notions and, to a lesser extent, socio-political matters. It is not clear if glyphs are both pictographic and ideographic, or what role phonograms might have played, and this remains a hotly studied component of Mesoamerican archaeology. Size: 5.25" Diameter x 3" H (13.3 cm x 7.6 cm) Provenance: ex-Marc Amiguet Schmitt estate, Amiguet's Ancient Art, Evansville, Indiana, USA, acquired prior to January 1, 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #174854 Condition: Chips and abrasions to interior surfaces, otherwise intact and excellent. Light mineral and earthen deposits throughout.
• ACOMA PUEBLO INDIAN POLYCHROME
  ACOMA PUEBLO INDIAN POLYCHROME POTTERY OLLAAcoma Pueblo Indian polychrome pottery olla, mid to late 19th c., featuring intricate geometric pattern and line work, inscribed on underside Found by Carol B. Greenbush 1941, Henry Eicher collection, Santa Barbara Museum, 5 1/2" h., 8" dia. Condition: Losses to paint, likely excavated.
• LATE OLMEC POTTERY FIGURE RIDING
  LATE OLMEC POTTERY FIGURE RIDING ZOOMORPHPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, late Olmec to Proto Maya culture, ca. 600 to 300 BCE. A fine, hand-built pottery sculpture of a seated figure riding the head of a zoomorph. Depicted with legs propped up at the knees as he straddles a dragon-like head, the fascinating figure displays a slender torso, short limbs, square shoulders, and a huge head. He gazes forward from large, almond-shaped eyes above a petite nose, an open mouth, and drilled ears, all topped by a helmet-like headdress with a circular adornment at the front. The ferocious reptile presents a pointed snout with incised nostrils and mouth agape, as the rider holds a pair of long sticks angled towards the beast's head. Size: 1.6" W x 2.5" H (4.1 cm x 6.4 cm) Provenance: ex-Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA collection; ex-private Midwest, USA collection, 1960s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #168317 Condition: Light, ancient loss to tip of nose. Some minor nicks and abrasions. Otherwise, excellent with light mineral deposits in areas.
• FABULOUS OLMEC / PROTO MAYA JADE
  FABULOUS OLMEC / PROTO MAYA JADE BEAD NECKLACEPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec to Proto-Maya culture, ca. 500 BCE to 300 CE. A stunning ensemble of 52 sizeable, hand-carved jade beads, all strung on a modern leather strand to be wearable. All displaying barrel and spherical forms, the beautiful beads boast rich hues of mint, seafoam, midnight, and forest greens, as well as celadon, shamrock, teal, and viridian. A gorgeous adornment that is sure to make all who see it green with envy! Size (necklace): 30.5" L (77.5 cm); (largest bead): 0.875" W x 0.7" H (2.2 cm x 1.8 cm) 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. The value of 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. This would have been an exceedingly valuable and rare ceremonial item. This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques. Provenance: private Rochester, Michigan, USA collection, before 2010 All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #167060 Condition: Wearable as shown and strung in modern times. Jade beads are ancient, and leather necklace strand is modern. Professional repair to 6 beads, with nearly invisible adhesive residue along break lines; remaining beads are intact and excellent. All beads have light abrasions across surfaces, with some beads having light encrustations within drilled suspension holes. Fabulous surface smoothness and coloration throughout.
• Precolumbian style carved green
  Precolumbian style carved green soapstone figural pendant in the Olmec style; with a silver pendant cast from it and a silver chain each of the pendants 3 7/8 in. H.; the silver is unmarked probably coin grade 7.35 ozt. Estimate $ 200-300
• A Group of Four "Pre-Columbian"
  A Group of Four "Pre-Columbian" Style Carved Stone Objects including a "Mezcala" style white stone temple model height 5 1/4 in.; a "Huastec" style standing male figure height 13 1/2 in.; an "Olmec" style figure height 6 in.; and a stone mask height 6 3/4 in. (4 pcs.) Provenance: Estate Collection San Antonio TX acquired during family visits to Latin America 1950s.
• 2pc Olmec Pre Columbian Stone Idols
  2pc Olmec Pre Columbian Stone Idols 4.5'' to 7.25''. Includes a carved seated stone figure (missing chunk to ear) and a jade stone standing figure. Possibly 1200 to 400 BCE, though age is uncertain. Ex. Joseph Hirschhorn collection (a major known art collector), by decent, California.
• ACOMA PUEBLO POLYCHROME POTTERY
  ACOMA PUEBLO POLYCHROME POTTERY OLLA JARNative American polychrome pottery olla jar, Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, white ground, geometric designs executed in orange and black pigments, restoration, approx 9"h, 10.5"diam, 3lbs **Provenance: From the estate of Ali A. Abssi (1934-2020) and Florence Hall Abssi (1919-2014), founders of the Ishtar Gate Gallery in the prestigious Houston Galleria. They were world travelers and dealers of eclectic art, jewelry, antiquities, and gems. Their friends, acquaintances, and customers included people from all continents, including sheiks, prime ministers, royals, business leaders, politicians, and oil magnates. Florence was also a published author.**
• *A Mexican Pre-Columbian Terracotta
  *A Mexican Pre-Columbian Terracotta Figure the winged figure having an ovoid body together with a small figure holding a child. Height 6 1/2 inches.
• OLMEC POTTERY ROLLER STAMP +
  OLMEC POTTERY ROLLER STAMP + EARSPOOLPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec culture, ca. 1100 to 500 BCE. A fine set of hand-built pottery pieces from the ancient Olmec: a roller stamp and an earspool. The cylindrical roller stamp has a large, central perforation for ease of use, gently scalloped edges along the upper and lower rims, and intricate linear and geometric motifs incised along the exterior surfaces. The plug-form earspool is of a petite side with a corseted midsection, faint remains of red cinnabar along the verso, and an incised cruciform emblem accentuated with white pigment along the obverse. Size (roller stamp): 2.2" W x 1.875" H (5.6 cm x 4.8 cm); (earspool): 0.75" Diameter (1.9 cm) Provenance: private Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA collection; ex-Dr. David Harner collection, Springdale, Arkansas, USA, acquired between the 1950s and 1960s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm. Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping. #165648 Condition: Roller stamp has minor nicks and abrasions to incised decorations. Earspool has softening to incised cruciform motif and fading to white pigment and red cinnabar. Both pieces are intact and very good. Nice earthen deposits on roller stamp, and light remains of pigment and cinnabar on earspool.
• PRE-COLUMBIAN TOTONAC SMILING FACE,
  PRE-COLUMBIAN TOTONAC SMILING FACE, EX-KOMOR c. 700-500 BCE, Vera Cruz, Mexico, terracotta, on tiered wood stand, accompanied with copy of Mathias Komor receipt, 2"h (pottery), 4"h (total)
• RARE OLMEC / MAYA STONE JAGUAR
  RARE OLMEC / MAYA STONE JAGUAR MASKPre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec to Maya cultures, ca. 500 BCE to 500 CE. A hand-carved stone mask of grand form depicting a stylized jaguar in all of its ferocity. The majestic feline features a mouth full of incised teeth with 4 emphasized canine teeth, thick jowls, spiraling nostrils incised in front of a squat but powerful snout, and a pair of huge orbitals, all beneath a pair of cupped, short-cropped ears. A pair of drilled suspension holes on the temples enabled this mask to be worn, perhaps with ceremonial or ritual connotations. Size: 3.75" L x 6.25" W x 6.75" H (9.5 cm x 15.9 cm x 17.1 cm) Known as the "king of beasts" in the Pre-Columbian world and infamous for possessing high speed and massive strength, the jaguar was believed to dominate nature and inspire respect and awe throughout the ancient Americas. Jaguars were associated with strength and leadership, whether regarding spirituality or martial skill. Warriors, rulers, hunters, and shamans alike associated themselves with this King of Beasts, the largest and most powerful feline in the New World whom they viewed as their spirit companion and protector. According to a dramatic narrative in the Popol Vuh, the protective hero twin Xbalanque, possessing a zoomorphic phenotype with jaguar skin, fought the monster macaw Vucub Caquix with his twin Hunahpu, and the hero twins defeated the monster. Provenance: private Lexington, Kentucky, USA collection; ex-Dr. Jose Medina (1926-2007) collection, Florida, USA, acquired in the 1960s to 1970s All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #179731 Condition: Repair to both canine teeth as well as mandible in a few places along both sides, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Light abrasions and expected pitting, otherwise in excellent condition. Wonderful preservation to finer details, and great surface smoothness.
• Zapotec Figural Urn, Mexico, Monte
  Zapotec Figural Urn, Mexico, Monte Alban IIIA Early Classic A.D. 250-450, the seated male terra cotta figure having a head with striated coiffure falling to the shoulders, the face with merlin-shaped brows, bifurcated tongue and heavy-lidded eyes, the features obscured by the buccal mask, the figure adorned with a large glyphic pendant, loincloth and earrings, the legs crossed with hands resting on the feet, h. 7-1/2".
• PRE-COLUMBIAN POTTERY. TOLTEC
  PRE-COLUMBIAN POTTERY. TOLTEC Terracotta Mask of a Warrior, a burial offering, Central Mexico, 10h-12th c., CE, displayed on a lexan cube. 4" mask, 4" cube. Reassembled.