A Pair of Olmec Birds... (Total: 2 )

Description

A Pair of Olmec Birds
Mesoamerica, Early Pre-Classic Period, c. 1200-900 BC

A stunning pair of iridescent long-beaked bird ornaments carved from pearl oyster, the only shell in Mesoamerican waters with a naturally lustrous mother-of-pearl surface. The two are mirror images, each with short body, squared tail, and flexed leg tucked beneath. A horizontal slot above the body suggests attachment to a headdress or headband. Strongly and clearly incised details of crest, wing, and tail feathers highly visible, with traces of red pigment in the grooves; the eyes once held inlays, likely pyrite. Their long, downward-curving beaks identify them as seabirds, probably frigates. In good condition, the long beaks repaired from three pieces. Custom metal stand.

Superb for both rarity and artistry, the pair demonstrates the Olmec fascination with avian imagery, here rendered in a luminous material imbued with ritual significance.

Provenance:
Acquired by the current collection in 2001
The Lands Beyond, New York, NY
Herbert L. Lucas, Los Angeles, CA
Fine Arts of Ancient Lands, New York, NY

Lengths: 4 inches each



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