102b
Rare & Enormous Olmec Jadeite Celt
1/4
Description
Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. An extraordinary celt both in size and presentation, hand-carved from a single contiguous piece of forest-green jadeite with densely-congregated natural veining of pale-green hues. The celt boasts convex faces that gently expand towards the wider head and an acutely-angled blade edge which courses around the peripheries before terminating at the rounded end of the thick handle. The celt is a tapered hand tool of a highly-stylized ritual form with an overall ovoid shape. Meticulously flaked and then sanded to a smooth, reflective sheen, this is a stunning piece of art, designed to resemble a common weapon but employed for a votive function. Examples of this size are incredibly scarce, but have been found in tombs standing together with jadeite anthropomorphic figures. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 2.125" W x 29.4" H (5.4 cm x 74.7 cm); 31.6" H (80.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire greenstone like this from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. All of this speaks to its immense value in society. Green stones like jadeite seem to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Recent scholarship has linked the embrace of green serpentine by the Olmec to the importance of corn in the Olmec economy as greenstone along with quetzal plumes symbolized verdant maize, a most valuable staple, to the indigenous peoples. In fact, greenstone celts like this example symbolized ears of corn and were used as a form of currency by the Olmec (Karl A. Taube, Olmec Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 1996, p. 18). Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that green stone was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.
This item is an exemplar of ancient Mesoamerican sculpture, impressive for its technique, iconography, and well as the inherent beauty of ancient stone-working. A superb sculptural work from the Olmec, indeed the first Mesoamerican civilization that most regard as the forerunner of subsequent ancient American cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs!
A stylistically-similar example of a much smaller size hammered for EUR 21,250 ($24,287.37) at Christie's, Paris "A Quantum of History: The Progogine Collection" auction (sale 16282, April 9, 2018, lot 21): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/hache-votive-olmeque-preclassique-env-900-600-6131727-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6131727&sid=c31dfff8-7431-4b15-8ef6-e02521fe6985
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, Old Curiosity Cabinet, Los Angeles, California, USA
Condition: Repaired from 4 large pieces with light restoration, resurfacing, and overpainting along break lines; light polishing done after repairs. Minor nicks to blade edge and both faces, with light abrasions. Smooth surface texture still present, and natural jadeite colors are still vivid. Old inventory label on verso.
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.
#143410
Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire greenstone like this from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. All of this speaks to its immense value in society. Green stones like jadeite seem to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Recent scholarship has linked the embrace of green serpentine by the Olmec to the importance of corn in the Olmec economy as greenstone along with quetzal plumes symbolized verdant maize, a most valuable staple, to the indigenous peoples. In fact, greenstone celts like this example symbolized ears of corn and were used as a form of currency by the Olmec (Karl A. Taube, Olmec Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 1996, p. 18). Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that green stone was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.
This item is an exemplar of ancient Mesoamerican sculpture, impressive for its technique, iconography, and well as the inherent beauty of ancient stone-working. A superb sculptural work from the Olmec, indeed the first Mesoamerican civilization that most regard as the forerunner of subsequent ancient American cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs!
A stylistically-similar example of a much smaller size hammered for EUR 21,250 ($24,287.37) at Christie's, Paris "A Quantum of History: The Progogine Collection" auction (sale 16282, April 9, 2018, lot 21): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/hache-votive-olmeque-preclassique-env-900-600-6131727-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6131727&sid=c31dfff8-7431-4b15-8ef6-e02521fe6985
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, Old Curiosity Cabinet, Los Angeles, California, USA
Condition: Repaired from 4 large pieces with light restoration, resurfacing, and overpainting along break lines; light polishing done after repairs. Minor nicks to blade edge and both faces, with light abrasions. Smooth surface texture still present, and natural jadeite colors are still vivid. Old inventory label on verso.
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.
#143410
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Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Olmec, ca. 1150 to 550 BCE. An extraordinary celt both in size and presentation, hand-carved from a single contiguous piece of forest-green jadeite with densely-congregated natural veining of pale-green hues. The celt boasts convex faces that gently expand towards the wider head and an acutely-angled blade edge which courses around the peripheries before terminating at the rounded end of the thick handle. The celt is a tapered hand tool of a highly-stylized ritual form with an overall ovoid shape. Meticulously flaked and then sanded to a smooth, reflective sheen, this is a stunning piece of art, designed to resemble a common weapon but employed for a votive function. Examples of this size are incredibly scarce, but have been found in tombs standing together with jadeite anthropomorphic figures. Custom museum-quality display stand included. Size: 2.125" W x 29.4" H (5.4 cm x 74.7 cm); 31.6" H (80.3 cm) on included custom stand.
Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire greenstone like this from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. All of this speaks to its immense value in society. Green stones like jadeite seem to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Recent scholarship has linked the embrace of green serpentine by the Olmec to the importance of corn in the Olmec economy as greenstone along with quetzal plumes symbolized verdant maize, a most valuable staple, to the indigenous peoples. In fact, greenstone celts like this example symbolized ears of corn and were used as a form of currency by the Olmec (Karl A. Taube, Olmec Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 1996, p. 18). Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that green stone was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.
This item is an exemplar of ancient Mesoamerican sculpture, impressive for its technique, iconography, and well as the inherent beauty of ancient stone-working. A superb sculptural work from the Olmec, indeed the first Mesoamerican civilization that most regard as the forerunner of subsequent ancient American cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs!
A stylistically-similar example of a much smaller size hammered for EUR 21,250 ($24,287.37) at Christie's, Paris "A Quantum of History: The Progogine Collection" auction (sale 16282, April 9, 2018, lot 21): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/hache-votive-olmeque-preclassique-env-900-600-6131727-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6131727&sid=c31dfff8-7431-4b15-8ef6-e02521fe6985
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, Old Curiosity Cabinet, Los Angeles, California, USA
Condition: Repaired from 4 large pieces with light restoration, resurfacing, and overpainting along break lines; light polishing done after repairs. Minor nicks to blade edge and both faces, with light abrasions. Smooth surface texture still present, and natural jadeite colors are still vivid. Old inventory label on verso.
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.
#143410
Olmec artisans used long distance trade routes to acquire greenstone like this from Eastern Guatemala, over three hundred miles from their homeland. All of this speaks to its immense value in society. Green stones like jadeite seem to have been associated with water, vegetation, and young corn, the staple food of Olmec life. Recent scholarship has linked the embrace of green serpentine by the Olmec to the importance of corn in the Olmec economy as greenstone along with quetzal plumes symbolized verdant maize, a most valuable staple, to the indigenous peoples. In fact, greenstone celts like this example symbolized ears of corn and were used as a form of currency by the Olmec (Karl A. Taube, Olmec Art at Dumbarton Oaks, 1996, p. 18). Based on burial practices, particularly the objects from important burials at La Venta in the present day Mexican state of Tabasco, we believe that green stone was reserved for high nobility, royalty, and the gods.
This item is an exemplar of ancient Mesoamerican sculpture, impressive for its technique, iconography, and well as the inherent beauty of ancient stone-working. A superb sculptural work from the Olmec, indeed the first Mesoamerican civilization that most regard as the forerunner of subsequent ancient American cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs!
A stylistically-similar example of a much smaller size hammered for EUR 21,250 ($24,287.37) at Christie's, Paris "A Quantum of History: The Progogine Collection" auction (sale 16282, April 9, 2018, lot 21): https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/sculptures-statues-figures/hache-votive-olmeque-preclassique-env-900-600-6131727-details.aspx?from=searchresults&intObjectID=6131727&sid=c31dfff8-7431-4b15-8ef6-e02521fe6985
Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-Ian Arundel collection, Old Curiosity Cabinet, Los Angeles, California, USA
Condition: Repaired from 4 large pieces with light restoration, resurfacing, and overpainting along break lines; light polishing done after repairs. Minor nicks to blade edge and both faces, with light abrasions. Smooth surface texture still present, and natural jadeite colors are still vivid. Old inventory label on verso.
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.
#143410
Exceptional Day 2 Ethnographic Tribal Fossils
Sale Date(s)
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Ste 106
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Colorado
80027
United States
For Artemis Gallery delivery information please telephone +1 7208907700.
Important Information
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional ethnographic art from around the world. Today's sale will feature Pre-Columbian from the ancient americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, and incredible Fossils.
Terms and Conditions
Please read the following "Terms of Sale" carefully. Your submission of bids in this auction constitutes your acceptance of these "Terms of Sale." 1. All items in this auction have been legally acquired, are legal to sell, and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. 2. By bidding in this auction, the bidder personally guarantees payment. The auctioneer has final discretion in all matters. In case of dispute, the lot(s) in question may be resold. Lots will be sold in their numerical sequence unless the auctioneer directs otherwise. 3. HIGH and LOW ESTIMATES are provided for each lot for reference only. The actual selling / hammer price may be higher or lower based on bidder demand. All lots will sell to the highest bidder without hidden / confidential reserves. 4. No lots will be released / shipped until payment has been made in full. Payment (in U.S. funds) may be made via personal check or money order, via credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover), PayPal or Bank Wire Transfer. For PayPal payments please use "artemisgallery@gmail.com" email address for processing payments. 5. BUYER'S PREMIUM: A 24.5% Buyer's Premium will be added to the final price of each lot purchased through Artemis Gallery and will be paid by all bidders without exception. 6. CO SALES TAX: Appropriate Colorado Sales Tax will be added to all invoices, unless a valid CO seller's permit is on file with Artemis Gallery/Artemis Gallery Live prior to any bidding in the auction. Items shipped outside of CO (United States or international) are also sales tax exempt. 7. RETURN POLICY: In the event of an authenticity dispute, written notification of the dispute must be provided to Artemis Gallery within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. After Artemis Gallery is notified of the dispute, a written letter from a recognized expert in the field pertaining to the item in dispute must then be presented. If Artemis Gallery concludes that the assessment of the piece is accurate, a full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned. In the event of an error in item description, condition report, provenance, or dimensions, written notification of the error must be given within two business days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data. A full refund, including item price, buyer's premium (if applicable), and shipping costs will be provided. Artemis Gallery will either provide a pre-paid return shipping label or will reimburse the return shipping charge. Artemis Gallery will only remit refund after the item has been returned. If a return is requested for any reason other than the above, written notification with reason for return must be given within 15 days from receipt of the item as shown by FedEx, UPS, or USPS tracking data for Artemis Gallery to issue a refund to the original payment method. If notification is given after 15 days, the item may be returned for credit toward a future purchase or may be consigned for sale through Artemis Gallery. The item must be returned to Artemis Gallery at the buyer's expense and a refund or credit of the item price and buyer's premium (if applicable) will be provided after the item is returned. Original shipping charges will not be refunded. All items to be returned must be adequately insured and must be received by Artemis Gallery in the same condition as when shipped. In no event may any item be returned after 90 days from the date of delivery. 8. 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In the event a successful bidder fails to make payment when due, Artemis Gallery reserves the right to re-sell the merchandise and bidder agrees to pay for the reasonable cost of such a sale and to pay any difference between the resale price and the previously successful bid, together with any incidental costs of sale and disbursements. 11. If the auction invoice is not paid for in full when due per invoice terms, including any applicable credit card processing fees, the unpaid balance will bear interest at the highest rate permitted by law until paid in full. If the matter is referred to an attorney for collection, bidder agrees to pay all reasonable attorney fees, court costs and other collection cost incurred by Artemis Gallery to collect past due invoices and that the services of process by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, shall be sufficient to confer "in personam" jurisdiction over bidder. 12. Buyer agrees that any claim of controversy arising out of, or relating to the formation, interpretation of performance of these terms and underlying transactions or the breach thereof, is subject to arbitration or judicial proceedings and shall take place within the County of Boulder, CO subject to the laws of the State of Colorado. 13. QUESTIONS? Feel free to email us at info@artemisgallery.com with questions prior to bidding or feel free to call us at 720-890-7700. Please be sure to ask all questions at least 30 minutes prior to auction start time, as we will not be able to take calls or answer emails sent to us during the auction.
