Ancient Suns

This exceptionally colored and high quality jadeite bead, fits into the category of being an amulet, by virtue of the extra hole, or eye, at one of the stringing ends. The exact explanation for this form of decoration is unknown, although presumably the Pre-Columbian Mayans decorated beads with eyes, to ward of the “evil eye”, as was done in ancient cultures, the world over. It is interesting in the case of Mesoamerican Cultures, that these eyes were almost always placed in a more private spot, adjacent to the stringing hole. This is an exceptionally high quality bead, sculpted from an intensely blue/green jadeite, with a high polish. This is one of my most exceptional beads.

19mm hole to hole, and 15mm thick