Ancient Suns

Very rare Mayan aventurine pendant bead. Aventurine was used extensively by the ancient Maya, and aventurine is often found on Mayan necklaces, mixed with jadeite. You can imagine the appeal of this sparkle! If you ask yourself, does it REALLY have that much sparkle, the answer is YES! More. Excellent condition. Double top to back drilling.

16mm x 19mm wide

Extremely rare Tairona Culture bird amulet pendant bead. 200 AD This rare Tairona agate pendant is skillfully carved, has a superb high polish, and is back drilled. Very few of these rare bird amulets are ever seen on the market; almost all are held in private collections.
Provenance: The Earl Kessler Collection

18mm x 15mm

Beautiful and rare Tairona Culture necklace. This necklace is composed of some rare and high quality Tairona Culture beads, including green Tairona jade(varacite), and a rare Tairona agate centerpiece. The necklace has been professionally hand-knotted, using a crown-knotting technique. More photos can be available on request.

24 1/2 inches in length; the center agate measures 18mm x 16mm; the longest tubular beads measure 33mm

80mm!! Very rare, Tairona rock crystal bead, with truncated ends. These beads are the pinnacle of Tairona bead craftsmanship. It is rare to find this type of bead intact and without chips. This bead is solid, and in perfect condition.

80mm x 10mm

Very rare for its fine crafting, its size, and its beautiful stone matrix, this bead may be Mezcala Culture in origin or, possibly Olmec. Quite certainly it falls into the 2000+ y/o category. The colors on this bead are rare and stunning; the stringing hole is large and deeply conically drilled.

20mm in diameter

Extremely rare Tairona Culture, jade bird amulet. This amulet is in excellent condition. It does have a small unpolished area on the back of the amulet, that may be an old “ding”, or simply an area that was not polished, when the bird was fashioned. This piece has wonderful color and polish.

27mm x 15mm

Large, rare, and very striking, Tairona agate pendant bead. This is a stunning and rare piece for the collector, or for use as the centerpiece of a Tairona necklace. Perfect condition.

45mm in diameter

Large black, most likely Olmec Culture bead, from what is now the State of Guerrero. This bead has an extremely interesting white patterning in the stone, that the bead’s craftsman used to the utmost advantage. This galaxy-like pattern in not due to surface changes in the stone from burial; it is part of the original character of the stone. This is a beautiful and rare bead. It is in excellent condition, with a very fine polish.

18mm in diameter x 15mm in height

Chavin Culture, sodalite bead, 2000+ years old. This bead is a muted blue, with burial patina, that enriches the color with browns, golds and greens. Excellent condition.

26mm x 12mm

Very large, beautiful sodalite tubular bead, from the Chavin Culture of Peru. 2000+ years old. This bead has burial patina, and some calcific erosion at one stringing hole end. This could be cleaned up, but I have chosen to leave it. In every other way, the bead is in excellent condition.

55mm x 19mm

Conical or volcano shaped bead, from either the Mezcala or the Olmec Culture. Nobody seems to know for sure, how these types of beads were used. Some people think they were part of a Pre-Columbian ear ornament, but is possible that they had uses that we don’t quite understand. This bead is well formed. The stone material is atypical, in that it is somewhat “sandy”, and likely somewhat softer than the more typical river stones. The color is that of a deep green olive. Excellent condition.

32mm in diameter at the base; 18mm high, and 20mm in diameter at the top

This is a very striking Mesoamerican greenstone pendant bead, likely from the Mezcala Culture, or possibly earlier. 2000+ years old. The color on this pendant is a lovely soft green. It has the interesting feature of having been simply decorated, in three places. There are additional drilled “holes” or eyes(only partially drilled into the stone), that are almost exactly opposite each other, on either side of the bead. This is a feature occasionally found in Mayan beads, as well. There is also a line decoration on the side of the bead, that can be seen in the fourth photo. This is an unusual and handsome bead.

40mm x 26mm

Extremely rare 24 and 3/4 inch Tairona necklace. This rare necklace is both traditional and unique in design. Among the very rare beads included, are, 7 large and very rare Tairona red agate beads, and two long truncated Tairona rock crystal tubular beads. The necklace also includes two shorter rock crystal tubular beads, and a variety of jasper and red agate beads. All beads are in excellent condition, with the exception of a slight amount of chipping on one of the long tubular beads.

The length of the longest tubular bead is 62mm; the diameter of the large round pendant bead is 30mm

Extremely rare, large sculpted Pre-Columbian bead from the ancient Central Mexico area. The grey-black stone of this bead has been artistically carved with a pattern resembling woven fabric, or basketry. The bead has a wonderful lustrous patina, and has excavation dirt intact. This bead could be wonderful, worn as a single bead, on a cord, or it will be a spectacular artifact in a Pre-Columbian collection. This bead’s provenance is from a private collection.

51mm x 20mm

Very cleanly sculpted, Mezcala Culture tubular barrel bead. This greenstone bead has a wonderful ancient patina, paired with superb ancient stringing hole wear. Perfect condition

12mm x 10mm

Rare shaped, Mezcala Culture tubular spotted greenstone bead. This bead has a shape that is suggestive of an ear flare, but, judging from the stringing hole wear, it more likely was used as a bead. The bead has a beautiful ancient patina, deep conical drilling, and smooth stringing hole wear. Excellent condition.

14mm in length

Large Mezcala Culture donut shaped bead. This contours of this bead have been beautifully softened with age and use. The bead has deep conical drilling and an excellent ancient patina.

20mm in diameter

Very large Olmecoid(200 BC or older), wedge shaped spotted greenstone bead. This bead suggests great antiquity and wear, in its style, stringing hole types, and smooth stinging hole wear. The stringing holes have been visibly enlarged over time by wear. Excellent condition.

28mm x 22mm

Very beautiful blue/green Mezcala Culture disc bead. This unusual shaped beads are actually very attractive in necklaces, when used with some other large beads. The beautiful color of this bead, was actually hard to capture, but the first photo is quite accurate. Excellent condition.

27mm in diameter

This is a very rare greenstone bead from the area that is now the Central Mexican Highlands. This bead has a very strong orange/red eye, within a black eye. This is a very rare finding in Pre-Columbian beads. Although, I am not sure, I now believe that this eye may have been decorated onto the bead, in the style that beads are decorated in Asia. If so, this is the only bead like this that I have seen. In any case, the choice of placement of this eye, makes it certain that the bead craftsman crafted the bead this way with intention. This bead is also a rare snake green color. The drilling and stringing hole wear is typical of beads from the Central Highlands. Excellent condition.

14mm in diameter

Rare in size, and with good green color, Mezcala Culture disc shaped bead. Unlike the Olmecs, and later the Maya, the Mezcala Culture did not seem to make many large disc shaped beads. This chunky bead is in very good condition.

22mm in diameter

Rare top and end drilled, Mezcala Culture pectoral or pendant bead. This bead would have been worn at the front of a strand, or may have been worn singly. It is also possible that other beads were strung hanging down from this bead. I’m sorry that the photos do not entirely do this bead justice, as the stone material from which it is crafted, is exceptionally fine. The bead is VERY green, the spots are extremely fine, and there is a very fine high polish. Excellent condition.

16mm x 12mm

Trio of beautifully colored, fine Mezcala Culture beads(200 BC). All three of these beads are nicely formed, and have exceptional green color. Excellent condition.

The tubular bead measures 22mm in length

Mezcala Culture necklace bead(200 BC). This bead is very finely sculpted into a well rounded donut shape, and has excellent green color. A small amount of light surface wear, but otherwise excellent condition.

13mm in diameter

Very Rare Cacique or Chieftan Amulet Bead, from the Tairona Culture of Colombia. The red agate stone from which this bead is crafted is described as “VIVO”, meaning that it has a very “alive” energy quality. The amulet is finely sculpted, and the details are hard to fully appreciate from the photo. The provenance is the Earl Kessler Collection. Excellent condition.

30mm x 16mm

This is a very large and very fine tubular greenstone bead from the area of Mexico that is now the State of Guerrero, or possibly one of the neighboring states. The bead is sculpted from a very hard, forest green stone material, and it has a very fine polish. This is one of the largest beads of its kind that I have ever seen, and it is in superb condition. The white area on one of the stringing hole ends is NOT a repair; it is just a color variation in the stone material. This is a superb collector’s bead.

78mm x 17mm

Very handsome, graduated strand of Mezcala Culture beads. These beads are crafted of a dark blackish/green greenstone. They have a fine polish, nice shape, and are in excellent condition.

The strand is 13 1/2 inches in length; the size of the beads ranges from 6mm to 16mm

Large high quality Olmecoid tubular bead. This bead is fashioned from a very hard mottled green quartz-like material. It has typical Olmecoid oversized stringing holes, with smooth wear. Excellent condition.

23mm x 16mm

Large blue/green Olmecoid, possibly Mezcala, tubular bead. This bead has significant quartz veining. It is not cracked, but there is a fissure in the stone material, on one side of the bead. Excellent ancient patina, and excellent condition.

35mm

Another very large and very fine tubular greenstone bead from the area of Mexico that is now the State of Guerrero, or possibly one of the neighboring states. The bead is sculpted from a very hard, forest green stone material, and it has a very fine polish. This is a very long, slender and beautiful bead; the tubular shape is slightly flattened. It is in superb condition, and will make a fine collector’s bead.

73mm x 14mm

The color of this bead exemplifies the words “jade green”. This gorgeous, well polished bead is crafted from a hard jade-like form of spotted greenstone. The difference in the two holes may suggest that the bead was broken at some point in its history. The larger stringing hole shows great smooth stringing hole wear, and the bead has a beautiful patina.

23mm x 15mm

Mayan tubular beads such as this one are extremely rare. Most of them have been cut into smaller sections, in a practice referred to as “herencia’. Today’s Maya, if they are fortunate enough to own a tubular bead, such as this one, will cut off a piece and give it as a gift to their children. It is presumed that the Pre-Columbian Maya had a similar practice, as one sees cut beads with a great deal of stringing hole wear on both ends. This fabulous bead escaped this practice, and is in perfect condition.

70mm x 13mm

3 Superb Tairona Culture beads, including a rare colored tubular jasper bead and two carnelian beads.

The tubular bead measure 22mm in length; the carnelians are 11-12mm in diameter.

Beautiful and very rare colored, Tairona Truncated quartz tube. Superb condition.

59mm x 12mm

Extremely large and fine jade-like tubular bead, dating from approximately 200 BC. This bead was sculpted from a high quality semi-translucent quartz type stone material . Please note the photos of the stringing hole ends, to have a sense of the translucent quality of this stunning bead. The bead originated in Western Mesoamerica, the part of Mexico that is now known as Colima. The provenance of this bead, is the Ron Merrick Gallery, of Santa Fe, New Mexico. This bead is a true museum-quality piece. There are no cracks; it is in entirely solid condition.

70mm x 21mm
50 grams

I think, quite clearly, that this jadeite pendant was cut and polished with the intention of being carved into a maskette, or face bead. The color of the jadeite is a striking apple green, with a quite large inclusion of translucent Imperial Green jadeite, towards the lower part of the bead. It is possible that this is why the craftsman who sculpted this bead stopped, because putting in a face would have cut through the section of “jade imperial”, as it is known in Spanish. This bead will need support beads or knotting, on either side, if it is to be used as a pendant. Not continuing with the carving has left the pendant somewhat top heavy.

37mm x 27mm; 24 grams

Very rare and beautiful jade-like tubular bead. This exquisite color, and degree of translucence is found, only very rarely, in Pre-Columbian beads. The bead was sourced in the part of Mexico, that is now the State of Colima. Excellent condition. Provenance: The former Ron Merrick Gallery of Santa Fe, New Mexico

33mm x 11.5mm

Exceptionally large and beautifully colored jade type bead from Western Mexico. The bead is crafted from a beautiful, almost turquoise green quartz stone material. The bead does have areas of erosion, from long burial. This is a very fine quality collector’s bead.

44mm x 28mm

Large jade type bead, of exceptional color and quality. This bead is from the Colima Culture, 200 BC to 200 AD. The Colima Culture flourished in the area of Western Mexico, that is now the State of Colima. The bead does have a couple of areas of surface erosion(as can be seen in the photos), and it has a small, old chip, near one of the stringing holes. These do not lessen the impressiveness of this beautiful bead. It has a wonderful high polish and high degree of translucence.

32mm x 16mm

Rare Mayan jadeite axe head pendant bead, with two high quality Mayan jadeite beads. All three beads are sculpted of very high quality Mayan jadeite, sourced in the Guatemalan Highlands. All three pieces had a fine jadeite polish and patina, and excellent stringing hole wear.

The pendant measures 21mm x 10mm; the beads each measure 7mm in diameter.

Beautiful and nicely sized Mayan jadeite disc bead. This bead has exceptional soft green jadeite color, with a beautiful patina, and excellent ancient stringing hole wear.

18mm in diameter by 8.5mm thick

Very rare Mayan jadeite tubular/bar bead. 2000+ years old. Large jadeite beads, like this one, were worn only by Mayan nobility. There is a tradition, among the Maya, that beads like this were sometimes etched with a line, at the birth of each child. Sometimes, later, the bead was cut, along that line, and given to the child. This was likely the case, with this bead, judging from the different sized stringing holes on the two ends of the bead. It is also possible, of course, that at some point in its history, this bead was broken and re-polished. Either way, judging from the patina on this bead, the cut was made in antiquity. This bead is finely crafted from a fine green jadeite that has a bluish gray tint. It retains an extraordinary polish, and has a fine ancient patina.Excellent condition.

35mm x 17mm

Beautiful and rare, blue jadeite toucan amulet bead, from Costa Rica. 200 AD. This bead is sculpted from the same gorgeous blue jadeite, so favored by the Olmec. It is presumed that the source of this jadeite is the same as that of the Olmecs, the Montagua Valley fault, in Guatemala. This is a uniquely gorgeous piece, in excellent condition.

27mm, beak to tail

Pre-Columbian jade matrix bead, sourced in what is now Western Mexico, and likely from the Colima Culture. 2000+ years old. The bead has an excellent polish, and ancient stringing hole wear. There is a moderate amount of surface wear, as can be seen in the photos.

17mm in diameter

Large and of exceptional color and quality, this semi-translucent jade tubular bead was sourced in what is now Western Mexico, and is likely from the Colima Culture. 2000+ years old. This bead has outstanding color, form and condition.

35mm x 15mm

Fine Pre-Columbian Mayan Jadeite face bead, sculpted from a very high quality green and white jadeite. This piece comes from the Highlands of Guatemala. The piece measures 29mm x 17mm. Please take note of the back drilling on the piece. The maskette, when strung, hangs slightly at an angle, although not as much so as looking at the drilling holes might suggest. The pendant is conically drilled, coming to quite a small hole in the center of the channel. The green of this piece is slightly brighter than in the photos. From the Tomasa Sente Collection. Excellent condition.

Large Mayan Jadeite bead, sourced in the Highlands of Guatemala. The bead has beautiful form, and is sculpted from the finest quality of Mayan jadeite. It is in excellent condition.

22mm x 15mm

Large Mayan jadeite bead, sourced in the Guatemalan Highlands. This bead has warm colors of gold, green and tans, and is sculpted from a very high quality Mayan jadeite. Excellent condition.

19mm x 18mm

Large and Fabulously colored, Mayan jadeite bead, sourced in the Guatemalan Highlands. Superb jade, in Excellent condition.

24mm in diameter

Large and Spectacularly colored, Mayan pectoral. It is possible that this piece was once intended for carving, but it is equally possible that it was intended to be worn just as is, to showcase the beauty of the jadeite. Noting the stringing hole wear, it has seen much wear. Stunning condition.

55mm x 40mm

Rare and beautifully colored Mayan tubular jadeite bead. Large intact tubular Mayan jadeite beads are rare. The deep forest green is also very rare. The bead has substantial stringing hole wear at both ends, but no chips or cracks. Excellent condition.

37mm x 14mm

Beautiful and rare, sage green Mezcala Culture tubular jade bead. This is a gorgeous bead, with a very satiny jade patina and wonderfully smooth ancient stringing hole ends.

21.5mm in length

Ceremonial Mayan axe jadeite pendant bead. This axe pendant bead has two extra holes, which always denotes ritual or ceremonial use. It is well sculpted from a very high quality green/gray jadeite, and was sourced in the Highlands of Guatemala. Excellent condition.

44mm x 22mm

Rare and beautifully colored Mayan jadeite tabular bead. This bead has very smooth ancient stringing hole wear, and a beautiful patina. Excellent condition.

23mm x 17mm

Very large Mayan jadeite bead, sourced in the Highlands of Guatemala. the body of the bead is gray/green, with a splash of intense apple green, as can be seen in the photos. Given its shape, it is possible that this piece was intended to be carved into a pectoral or amulet. Excellent condition.

34mm x 25mm

Rare variegated blue/green Mayan jadeite bead, sourced in Guatemala. This bead has rare and exceptional color and polish. Excellent condition.

18mm x 15mm

Mayan tubular jadeite bead, with very rare pale blue color. This bead was sourced in Guatemala. Light surface wear on one side, and overall excellent condition, with significant and smooth stringing hole wear.

38mm x 15mm

Superbly colored Mayan jadeite bead. This bead is the color of the famous blue jadeite of the Olmecs. The ancient Maya revered this color as well. Fine polish and excellent condition.

18mm x 11mm

Beautiful and very ancient jadeite bead. This bead, judging from its patina and stringing hole wear, is likely Pre-Classic, either Maya or Olmec. The color is a blue/green/gray, with exceptional ancient patina and smooth stringing hole wear. Excellent condition.

21mm x 17mm

Large, highest quality, blue jadeite tubular bead, from the Guanacaste-Nicoya Culture of Costa Rica. Excellent condition.

39mm x 19mm

Rare, beautifully colored Mayan Tubular jadeite bead, sourced in the Guatemalan Highlands. Tubular Mayan beads are rare, and this is a large and fine example. Excellent condition.

38mm x 17mm