Mezcala Maskette & Costa Rican Jade Frog Pendants
Ca. 300 BCE – 100 CE. Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Guerrero, Mezcala culture, ca. 300 BCE to 100 CE; Central America, Costa Rica, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. This wearable pair comprises a Guerrero Mezcala blackstone maskette pendant and a Costa Rican omphacite jade frog pendant, each mounted on modern strands for contemporary use. The Mezcala maskette, carved from a dark, fine-grained blackstone and polished to a restrained sheen, exemplifies the reductive aesthetic of the Guerrero region. The face is distilled into essential elements - drilled circular eyes, a gently modeled nose ridge, and a compact, columnar head. Mezcala artisans are known for their abstract treatment of the human form, favoring balanced proportions and quiet symmetry over naturalistic detail. Such maskettes are widely interpreted as votive or ancestral objects, their power residing in their concentrated, almost architectural presence. Size of larger pendant (face): 1.7" L x 1.3" W (4.3 cm x 3.3 cm); : 22" L (55.9 cm) Larger pendant (Mezcala maskette face): 1.7" L x 1.3" W (4.3 cm L x 3.3 cm W); Mezcala maskette pendant with strand: 22" L (55.9 cm L). This example is now strung on a modern necklace composed of pottery, stone, and glass beads from various cultures and time periods, and fitted with a modern magnetic clasp to ensure secure and practical wear. The Costa Rican pendant is carved from omphacite jade, a dense green stone long associated with status, ritual, and spiritual vitality in ancient Central America. The frog is rendered in compact, rounded form, with subtly indicated limbs and softly raised eyes. Across the region, frogs were potent symbols of fertility and renewal, closely tied to seasonal rains and agricultural cycles. The use of jade reinforces the amuletic significance of the form, as the material was reserved for objects of prestige and ceremonial meaning. The pendant is suspended from a modern sterling silver chain, allowing the ancient carving to be worn with understated elegance. Together, these two pendants present a compelling contrast between geometric abstraction and organic symbolism, each reflecting the distinct visual language and cultural priorities of its respective tradition. Provenance: ex-Moore collection, Houston, Texas, USA; Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005 SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item # 200247
Condition
Ancient pendants and some ancient beads all strung on modern strands to be wearable. Expected age wear to pendants and beads, but, otherwise, nice presentations.
Ca. 300 BCE – 100 CE. Pre-Columbian, Mesoamerica, Guerrero, Mezcala culture, ca. 300 BCE to 100 CE; Central America, Costa Rica, ca. 500 to 1000 CE. This wearable pair comprises a Guerrero Mezcala blackstone maskette pendant and a Costa Rican omphacite jade frog pendant, each mounted on modern strands for contemporary use. The Mezcala maskette, carved from a dark, fine-grained blackstone and polished to a restrained sheen, exemplifies the reductive aesthetic of the Guerrero region. The face is distilled into essential elements - drilled circular eyes, a gently modeled nose ridge, and a compact, columnar head. Mezcala artisans are known for their abstract treatment of the human form, favoring balanced proportions and quiet symmetry over naturalistic detail. Such maskettes are widely interpreted as votive or ancestral objects, their power residing in their concentrated, almost architectural presence. Size of larger pendant (face): 1.7" L x 1.3" W (4.3 cm x 3.3 cm); : 22" L (55.9 cm) Larger pendant (Mezcala maskette face): 1.7" L x 1.3" W (4.3 cm L x 3.3 cm W); Mezcala maskette pendant with strand: 22" L (55.9 cm L). This example is now strung on a modern necklace composed of pottery, stone, and glass beads from various cultures and time periods, and fitted with a modern magnetic clasp to ensure secure and practical wear. The Costa Rican pendant is carved from omphacite jade, a dense green stone long associated with status, ritual, and spiritual vitality in ancient Central America. The frog is rendered in compact, rounded form, with subtly indicated limbs and softly raised eyes. Across the region, frogs were potent symbols of fertility and renewal, closely tied to seasonal rains and agricultural cycles. The use of jade reinforces the amuletic significance of the form, as the material was reserved for objects of prestige and ceremonial meaning. The pendant is suspended from a modern sterling silver chain, allowing the ancient carving to be worn with understated elegance. Together, these two pendants present a compelling contrast between geometric abstraction and organic symbolism, each reflecting the distinct visual language and cultural priorities of its respective tradition. Provenance: ex-Moore collection, Houston, Texas, USA; Collection of Y. Kayvan, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired from a Los Angeles, California, USA gallery acquisition dates range from the late 1990s to 2005 SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700. PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception. Item # 200247
Condition
Ancient pendants and some ancient beads all strung on modern strands to be wearable. Expected age wear to pendants and beads, but, otherwise, nice presentations.
