This stunning, colorful choker necklace is from the ancient Nicoya region of Costa Rica. It is a remarkable example of pre-Columbian jewelry artistry, dating back to approximately 100 BC—500 AD. It showcases a harmonious blend of natural elements and vibrant colors, symbolizing the region’s rich cultural heritage.
At the heart of the choker is a light-colored tube stone, which serves as the central focal point of the piece. This stone is elegantly flanked on both sides by twelve Tigrillo canines, with six on each side. The Tigrillo, a small wild cat native to Central and South America, was often revered for its strength and agility, making these canines decorative and potentially symbolic in ancient Costa Rican society. The largest of these canines measures an impressive 1.25 inches (2.92 cm), adding to the choker’s striking visual appeal.
Various colored stones, including jadeite and spondylus shells, enhance the natural beauty of the canines. Jadeite, a stone of great significance in Mesoamerican culture, was often associated with life, fertility, and power. The deep green jadeite stones contrast with the brilliant orange Spondylus shells, which were highly valued in pre-Columbian times for their rarity, vibrant color, and symbolic significance. Combining these materials creates a vivid and captivating aesthetic that reflects the skill and creativity of the ancient artisans.
The choker has been carefully re-strung to an approximate length of 14 inches (35.56 cm), ensuring its durability and wearability in the modern day. This process respects the original design while allowing the piece to be comfortably worn or displayed. Additionally, the choker can be re-designed to accommodate the specific preferences of the wearer, offering a unique opportunity to personalize a piece of ancient history.
This extraordinary choker is a beautiful piece of jewelry and a tangible connection to the past, offering insight into the craftsmanship, symbolism, and cultural practices of ancient Costa Rica. Its vibrant colors, natural materials, and historical significance make it a rare and valuable addition to any collection.
Riker-style display box included.
Provenance: Kent Bond Gallery, Tampa, Florida
Price $1,200
Mezcala Stone Head Pendant
Precolumbian Mezcala semiabstract stone faces represent intricately carved artifacts from the Mezcala culture, distinguished by a distinctive artistic idiom. Characterized by a fusion of realism and artistic interpretation, these stone faces intricately capture facial features in a stylized manner. Emblematic of the Mezcala civilization’s ritualistic milieu, these artifacts are a testament to this ancient Mesoamerican society’s cultural and artistic proclivities, whose cultural zenith extended from approximately 700 B.C. to 200 A.D.
This attractive head pendant is carved from a speckled dark green stone and exhibits embellished relief with semiabstract facial features. Triangular in shape with an angled top. A suspension hole was drilled in the upper rim, with an additional deep startup hole below it. Guerrero, Balsas River region, Mexico. Ca. 300 B.C.
Measures: 2.75″. Intact in excellent condition.
Provenance: W. Fiore, Westfield, NJ
Note: This display stand is for illustrative purposes only. A custom stand can be requested free of charge with a production lead time of 10 days.
Price $1,225
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Chimú Blackware Double Stirrup Vessel
Pre-Columbian Andean communities utilized decorations to convey religious sentiments, express devotion to gods, showcase individual or community identity, and symbolize personal values and beliefs. Animals held particular importance in Andean mythology and were commonly featured in their decorative expressions.
This is a lovely Chimú black-ware mold-made double stirrup vessel with a bridge handle. The body has decorations and features a crescent headdress figure tethering two llamas or deer surrounded by dots in relief. The design alternates and repeats around the bottle’s circumference—measuring 7.5″ in height.
Condition: Rim and surface chip on the lower portion of the body, otherwise in excellent state. Mineral deposits throughout.
Provenance: Ex R. Saint, Bridgeport Ct.
Sold
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Guanacaste-Nicoya Jade Bird-Celt Pendant
Pre-Columbian Jade from Costa Rica. Bird celt with a smoothly flowing shape sets off admirably the quality of the stone and its polish. Gorgeous pale sea-green jade with veins of white. Rounded triangles in relief indicate wings. Eyes are set in a broad groove, surrounded by a rim that resembles spectacles, and further emphasized by an incised line that continues onto the beak. A pair of wide knobs on the head generally gives a resemblance to the local Nicoya great horned owl. The back displays a flat sawed surface, partially smoothed with a broken septum. Additionally, there are two drilled holes on each side of the head, allowing for suspension and wear of this object.
H. 4.125”/10.48 cm. Choice to near choice condition. Guanacaste-Nicoya region, Costa Rica. Ca. 500 B.C. – 500 A.D.
Price $5,200
Impressive Black Chimú Aryballos
An impressive black Chimú aryballos. Attractive and well-defined. Each squarish quadrant has embossed stylistic birds incorporated on the upper half with tiny raised dot elements in the contrasting background. Traditional pointed bottom, side loop handles, and a simple center lug. These vessels were molded, and quality diminished with production. These vessel impressions are sharp and of higher caliber, suggesting first casts and ceremonial use. To achieve this shiny black finish, firing at a high temperature in a closed kiln was used along with stone burnishing.
Condition: Choice
Peru. Ca 15th century. Measures 8″/20.32cm, respectively
As with all ceramics from these periods, they met two functions: simple daily domestic use with less finishing and ceremonial vessels with higher aesthetic commitment.
Price $875
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Fine Lambayeque Stirrup Vessel
Modeled image of the deity Naymlap, legendary hero king. A thick denticulated headband forms the base of the upper part of the spout. Three-tier tasseled ear ornaments hang down his chest. A pair of thick serpents rests on his shoulders. A zoomorphic figure lays on the ribbon-like stirrup handle. Measures 7.5”/ 15.24 cm in height. Overall, it is painted with a cream slip with a faint accent of red coloring. Dendrite spotting throughout. The middle section of the handle has been reattached with restoration over break. West Coast Peru. Ca. 800 A.D.
Price $1,200
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Nazca Polychrome Cactus Star Bowl
A colorful Nazca bowl dating from approximately AD 500-600 showcases a distinctive red, orange, brown, and tan star design with a central dot transformed into a phytomorphic motif. In Proulx’s “Sourcebook of Nazca Iconography,” on page 167, its interpretation suggests that it symbolizes a bisected San Pedro cactus renowned for its hallucinogenic qualities. The bowl’s interior and exterior walls are solid, bold red/orange. It measures 7.5″/19,05 cm in dia.
Nice example.
Provenance: Ex Carraher collection, Knoxville, TN. It was acquired in the 1970s and displays an inventory label on the bottom.
Price – Sold
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Inca Dish with Bird Head Handle
Discover the exquisite beauty of this small Inca dish (Chua) featuring a sparrow’s head handle. This shallow vessel was prevalent in its era, favored by the elite for serving delectable small portions. It is adorned in captivating Orange-ware, embellished with a mesmerizing black, red, and white polychrome paint palette. The interior imagery is thoughtfully divided into two registers, showcasing a central band adorned with white linear diamonds encircled by a black checker pattern against a vibrant red background. Two gracefully stylized catfish, painted in rich brown hues, dance over a creamy white backdrop. Segmented black lines define the outer band. The diverse forms and decorations across regions offer profound insights into interregional geographic linkages. Experience the allure of this rare artifact that unveils a captivating glimpse into the historical tapestry of its time.
Measures 5.5”/13,97 cm. in length from bird head to feet.
Machu Picchu region, Peru. Ca. 1400-1535 AD.
Condition: Strong color paint. Good mineral deposits. Some fainted pigmentation, otherwise in excellent condition.
Price $1,200
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Publicized Hauri/Chancay False Head
A nicely carved smaller false mummy mask. Painted overall in red cinnabar or iron oxide. Facial features are in relief. Eyes are incised white with black pupils. Four cutouts behind the outer mask were used in the original suspension—a custom base included with the original label from Lands Beyond Gallery.
Measures 5.25″/13.33 cm in height and 4.25″/10.79 cm. in width.
7.5″ overall height on stand.
West Coast, Peru. ca. 900 – 1250 AD.
Condition: Restoration on the nose, otherwise in fine condition.
Provenance: Ex Bower collection. Lands Beyond Pre-columbian Art Gallery, NY
Price $2,250
Note: This mask is presently being publicized on the Latin American Studies website under Chancay Mummy Bundle Wooden Mask – Latin American Studies
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases
Fine Mayan Stone Dagger
A fine Mayan stone dagger. Bi-facially knapped with a thin handle and ridged sharp blades. Marbleized Gray-blue chert. The dagger is very symmetric with a well balance to the handle. Choice condition. Belize region 200 BC – 500 AD. Custom stand included.
Measures 9.5″/24,13 cm.
Condition: Choice
Price – SOLD
This item may become featured here in the Native American Art Magazine
Click here to see our next item.
Are you seeking a particular piece? Please feel free to let us know.
Regional Division of Pre-Columbian Americas’ Major Archaeological Cultural Phases