A Large Jade Axe-God Celt Pendant...

Description

A Large Jade Axe-God Celt Pendant
Greater Nicoya, Costa Rica, c. 100 - 700 AD

Carved from a substantial piece of semitranslucent jade, this large pendant takes the form of a celt (axe blade), a shape widely revered in ancient Central America for its associations with agriculture, fertility, and chiefly power. It is a half figure supported by two addorsed felines. The surface has been carefully polished to a smooth sheen, emphasizing the fine grain and subtle luminosity of the stone. A string-cut cross-shape near center. The neck pierced for suspension, transforming the utilitarian form of a celt into a prestigious ornament intended for display on the body. In excellent condition. With a metal stand.

In ancient Costa Rica, jade was imported from distant sources and reserved for the elite. Celt pendants such as this served as emblems of rank, worn by high-status individuals in ritual and political contexts. Their form evoked both the agricultural tools essential to sustenance and the weapons of authority, uniting themes of fertility, abundance, and power. The translucence of this example, coupled with its imposing scale, places it among the more striking renditions of the type.

Height: 6 ½ inches

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