Fine Maya Jade Pectoral w/ God + Quetzalcoatl

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Mayan Territories, Maya, Late Classic period, ca. 550 to 900 CE. A stunning pectoral of an oblong rectangular form, hand-carved from a gorgeous slice of mottled green jade with pale yellow and orange inclusions. Carved atop the obverse face is a depiction of a seated deity with bent legs and finger tips touching in front of a wide chest. The god wears large circular earspools beneath a grand headdress with a wavy frontal band and curving terminals from which hang a pair of segmented fringe panels.

The left corner displays a wondrous portrayal of Quetzalcoatl/Kukulkan, the primordial feathered serpent god associated with intelligence and the creation of the world. A central vertical ridge along the middle of the ornament displays the area where another large slice of jade was carved off. The intricate carvings of this piece have been vigorously rubbed with bright red cinnabar, imbuing a regal bichrome appearance to this excellent example of Mayan ornamentation!

To the indigenous of the ancient Americas, jade was a stone that carried powerful symbolism. Jade ornaments were used in ceremonial rituals and as adornments for the elite. Jade was revered by the Maya not only for its beauty, but also because it had spiritual power - it was believed to be the embodiment of the wind and the "breath" that formed the Maya soul. In addition, scholars argue that its color was associated with water and vegetation. While the Maya used jade beads to create impressive jewelry, we also know that they placed jade beads in the mouths of the dead, perhaps as a means of extending the circle of life. Furthermore, many scholars have argued that the demand for jade contributed to the rise of long distance trading networks as well as the rise of urban centers in ancient Mesoamerica.

Quetzalcoatl (or Kukulkan) was a powerful god among the indigenous of the Americas. Kukulkan's meaning to the Maya world is not fully understood, but we know that for the Aztecs, the same figure is associated with the wind, the creation of arts and crafts, and knowledge. In addition, a serpent is sometimes used in Mayan iconography as the embodiment of the sky itself.