Ancient Suns

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

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

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

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

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, 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

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