US DOLLAR
EURO
AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR
CANADIAN DOLLAR
POUND STERLING
Product Description
Pre-Columbian cultures in Central America valued jade more than any other substance including gold. Looking at this incredible beauty of this authentic "axe god" pendant of the Greater Nicoya Pre-Columbian Culture leaves little doubt why. Where clay objects could be made with relative lack of special skill and produced in high volumes, ground and polished stone objects required much more expertise and time to produce the glossy finishes seen. Furthermore, because of the extreme value placed on materials such as jade and serpentine, only the finest carvers were allowed to work with the material. The end result of this practice meant that carved and polished jade objects were ONLY within reach of the most wealthy and noble classes of Pre-Columbian tribes.
Blue jade is considered to be the most precious of all the jade colors. This stunning treasure piece is made of this jade with a veined blue and white jade. Age has caused some erosion to the original polish but it also helps to authenticate the piece and remarkably, the pendant is INTACT and undamaged despite its thin nature. The workmanship is excellent and it is broader than usual. NO modern damage which is hard to find in authentic pieces. Sides have perforated holes still impacted with original mineral sediment - a trait ONLY seen in AUTHENTIC specimens such as this example. Pieces like this were considered the treasure of the owner in their time. Most definitely an object of extreme status or wealth amongst the Greater Nicoya people. Made of the most prized color jade - precious blue.
HISTORY
Pre-Columbian Indians considered jade much more valuable than gold. When Spanish explorers first made contact with several tribes, there are records note the surprise amongst various indigenous cultures, wondering why the explorers were more interested in the gold rather than the jade. Jade objects in Pre-Columbian cultures were considered the most precious and hence, displays of nobility and wealth.
In some Mesoamerican Pre-Columbian Cultures, axe-like anthropomorphic pendants called "Axe Gods", can be found, often resembling a sharpened celt axe at the base and having features of some type of deity or figure.
This piece is attributed to the Greater Nicoya Pre-Columbian Culture. This archaeological culture prevailed in the area of Latin America comprising the far southwestern coastal region of Honduras, the far northwestern Pacific coastal region of Costa Rica and the Pacific side of coastal Nicaragua. This Indian culture thrived for many centuries before the first Spanish explorers made contact around 1500 A.D.. The people had no written language but spoke Nahuatl and had continual contact with the Aztec (Mexica) Indians of Central Mexico. The Gran Nicoya culture included many beautiful designs incorporating a variety of different mammals, reptiles and amphibians in effigy pieces. Their pottery is also known for complex glyph-like painted decorations. In the first 500 to 600 years A.D., resources became low as populations grew and warfare become increasingly evident. Tribes in this region practiced head-hunting and victim sacrifice in their warfare.
WARNING: There is an ALARMING number of fake ancient artifacts on the market. As fine quality intact, original specimens become more scarce and techniques have become more sophisticated to fake these artifacts. We have personally handled numerous extremely well-done fakes with extremely convincing patinas. The degree to which the fakers have been able to replicate patina to disguise their work requires an expert examination by highly experienced individuals. Like all rare collectibles, fakes plague the market. Deal only with sources that are extremely knowledgeable in forgeries or altered pieces and get a written guarantee of authenticity that has no conditions or expiration period. Paleo Direct includes this guarantee in writing with every item we sell. All purchases should include from the dealer a written guarantee of authenticity with unconditional and lifetime return policies regarding such guarantee.