An Olmec Standing Figure...

Description

An Olmec Standing Figure
Mesoamerica, c. 1000-600 BC

Carved from light blue-green jade and polished to a smooth finish, this small standing figure has the intimate scale of a personal talisman or votive figure made for ritual use. The cleft at the crown, a characteristic Olmec feature, is often understood as an allusion to sprouting growth, possibly maize, and more broadly to fertility and regeneration. The facial features and arms are raised, with the features and edges rubbed and softened from long handling or ritual use. Flat feet allow the figure to stand unaided. Small in scale but rich in meaning, the figure draws on core Olmec symbols of greenstone, maize, and regenerative power. In excellent condition; minor chip to the proper right elbow, with mineral deposits in the recessed areas. A vein on the proper right leg has opened to a shallow fissure.

Provenance:
The Vilcek Foundation

Height: 3 ½ inches

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