Important Pre-Classic Maya Jade Figure...

Description

Important Pre-Classic Maya Jade Figure
Mesoamerica, Early Classic, c. 200 BC - 200 AD

A massive and important early Maya carving in speckled green jadeite. The Olmec, predecessors of the Maya, carved large stones and boulders into similar rotund seated or squatting figures. This carving depicts a heavy-set man seated on a bench type throne, the tabular legs at each end of the bench curve inward. His legs are folded upon the bench with incised toes, his arms gently curve to meet at the chest, the enlarged face has deep socket eyes, drilled nostrils, grooved mouth, incised ears, and he wears a short cap with incised notches. The back has a concave spine, fat rolls, and large buttocks. His massive weight fills the seat.

The significant carving is an exceptionally large jade example, of which, only a handful of intact carvings are known in a comparable size or larger, the most prominent being the largest Pre-Columbian jade ever found, 'The Star of Belize', which weighs 9 ¾ pounds; this example is two thirds of that weight at 6 ¾ lbs. It has been suggested that when this is viewed from different angles and upside down one sees via pareidolia multiple animal and human figures.

Provenance:
The Estate of Marc Schmitt, Evansville, IN
Purchased from Heritage Auctions, Art of the Americas, September 17, 2011, lot 50339.

Height: 6 inches

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