AN OLMEC JADE RECEPTACLE

MIDDLE PRECLASSIC, CA. 1150-550 B.C.

Details

AN OLMEC JADE RECEPTACLE
Middle Preclassic, ca. 1150-550 B.C.
The offering in the form of a low lying riverine canoe, the flat-bottomed barque with projecting bow and aft, incised with a groove along one of the projections and on the reverse, the smooth, concave interior with four gentle depressions at the corners; in rich spinach green mottled stone.
Lenght 5 1/4 in. (13.5 cm.)

Provenance

Wolfgang Paalen
Julius Carlebach
Charles Collingwood, New York

Lot Essay

Cf. The Olmec World, pls. 81 an 82

Four small jade canoes were included in the burial offerings at La Venta and one formed the treasure of Cerro de las Mesas. These rare, enigmatic trough-like forms were probably used in propitiary rituals.

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