A COSTA RICAN JADE FROG PENDANT

GUANACASTE REGION, CA. A.D. 1-500

Details

A COSTA RICAN JADE FROG PENDANT
Guanacaste region, ca. A.D. 1-500
Of thin section, the amphibian with legs sharply bent, raised dorsal ridge and triangular head with pierced pupils to the side; in dark green stone.
Height 1 5/8 in. (4 cm.)

Provenance

Carlo Gay Collection

Lot Essay

Cf. Balser, pl. 24.

Frogs hold a special place in Mesoamerican zoomorphic iconography due to their metamorphosis from egg to fish-like aquatic vegetarian to nocturnal carnivore as well as their association with fertility.

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