|
 |
|||
 |
||||
|
|
|||
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec
Jade
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Masks |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Mask, 10th–6th century
B.C. Mexico; Olmec - Jadeite; H. 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection
|
 |
Stone mask with cleft-like facial markings, from the Olmec period (1200-400 BC). It was reused by the Maya (AD 300-900). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Olmec Mask. Anthropomorphic face, 900300 B.C. Jadeite H. 8 1/8" (20.8 cm); W. 7" (17.8 cm); D. 4 1/4" (10.8 cm) Dumbarton Oaks Collection |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
STONE MASK, Middle Formative Serpentine. H. 8.4 cm
|
 |
Olmec Sectional Mask -
Jadeite Olmec Culture Gulf
Coast of Mexico |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Dignitary Mask Stone - Olmec Culture Central Mexico 1200-600 B.C.E. 4.75" h |
 |
Jade Ancestral Mask Olmec Culture, Mesoamerica 1200 - 600 B.C. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Mask - Mexico
900 BC to 500 BC Private Collection |
 |
Olmec Jade Mask - Mexico 900 BC to 500 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  |
Olmec Jade Mask 900 BC |
 |
Olmec Jade Mask 900 BC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade Miniature Mask Mexico, Olmec, 1200-300 BC |
 |
Jade mask with remnants of guiding drill holes at the edges of the eye orbits Dumbarton Oaks
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
JADE MASK, Middle Formative Jadeite. H. 13 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
 |
Olmec-style serpentine mask attributed to Guatemala Dumbarton Oaks
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Mask |
 |
Olmec Jade Mask | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Transformational Figurines Jade and Other Stone Figurines depicting the transformation of a human to animal form from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
Olmec (3 views) Transformational Figure, 900300 B.C. Serpentine H. 3 1/8" (7.9 cm); W. 1 3/4" (4.4 cm)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Seated transformation figure, 900300 B.C. Serpentine H. 7 1/2 (19 cm); W. 3 3/4 (9.5 cm) |
 Dumbarton Oaks |
TRANSFORMATION FIGURE IN COMBAT STANCE - Middle Formative - Serpentine. 18.8 cm - Reportedly found in Tabasco
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Eagle Transformation Figure,
10th–6th century B.C. Mexico; Olmec - Jade (albite), cinnabar; H. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm) The Metropolitan Museum of Art Collection
|
 |
Olmec Transformational Figurine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Transformational Figurine |
 |
Head from Olmec Transformational Figurine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Reclining Figures Jade and Other Stone Figurines from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The reclining figure pendant represents a male reclining on his side, with his left arm placed against his sharply upturned head. A biconically drilled hole behind the right shoulder reveals that the figure was intended to be worn horizontally, with the crook of the right arm or knee offering other possible places for suspension. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Reclining figure, 900300 B.C. |
 |
Olmec Reclining figure, 900300 B.C. Serpentine L. 4 3/8" (11.1 cm), H. 2" (5.1 cm)
Dumbarton Oaks Collection
This figure reportedly was discovered in two pieces several years apart. In
May 1948, only the head and left arm fragment were exhibited at the National
Gallery of Art. The larger fragment, consisting of the right arm, legs, and
torso, were joined to the rest of the piece later that same year.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Reclining
figure, Middle Formative period, attributed to San Gerónimo Dumbarton Oaks |
 |
Reclining figure - Middle Formative attributed to Tzintzuntzan Dumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Figurines |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
A coatimundi eating squash. Early Formative effigy bottle from Las Bocas Dumbarton Oaks
|
 |
An acrobat with a pair of circular ornaments. Middle Formative soapstone statuette Dumbarton Oaks
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
STANDING FIGURE, Middle Formative - Serpentine. 11 cm - Reportedly from San Pedro Tepatlaxco, PueblaDumbarton Oaks |
 |
Formative figures with circular head ornaments. (a) Monkey holding probable blowgun. Early Formative effigy bottle from Las Bocas Dumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade Olmec Standing Figure c. 900-400 B.C. - Mexico, Veracruz, Olmec - Pre-Classic period (c. 1600-100 B.C.) - Jadeite - 5-1/2 x 2-3/4 x 1-1/4 in. (13.9 x 6.9 x 2.9 cm) |
 |
Mesoamerican, Olmec - Mexico (Veracruz) - Standing Male Figure, about 800 B.C. - Dark green stone |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Bench Figure, 5th–2nd
century B.C. Mexico; Epi-Olmec - Greenstone; H. 6 7/8 in. (17.5 cm) |
 |
Olmec incised jade figure Middle Preclassic circa 900-600 BC 5 ¾ inches high | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Dumbarton Oaks |
STANDING FIGURE, Middle Formative - Jadeite. 8.5 cm
|
 |
Olmec Seated figure, 900300 B.C. Diopside-jadeite H. 6 3/8" (16.2 cm); W. 3 5/8" (9.2 cm)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 Back View |
Olmec Standing figure (possibly a Mace
Head), 900300 B.C. Jadeite H. 3 3/8" (8.6 cm); W. 1 3/8" (3.5 cm)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 Side View |
Olmec Standing figure, 900300 B.C. Diopside-jadeite H. 9 3/8" (23.8 cm); W. 4 3/4" (12 cm)
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec figurine, dark green serpentine, 1000 - 600 BCE, reportedly from Guerrero. About 2.5 in (6 cm) |
 |
INCISED STANDING STATUETTE, Middle Formative - Serpentine. 8.1 cmDumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Figure Private Collection
|
 |
Olmec Jade Figure Private Collection
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Figure Private Collection
|
 |
Las Limas Monument greenstone figure of a youth holding a limp were-jaguar baby. Found in the Mexican state of Veracruz in the Olmec heartland, the statue is famous for its incised representations of Olmec supernaturals and is considered by some a "Rosetta stone" of Olmec religion. It is also known as the "Las Limas figure" and the "Señor de las Limas". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Figure Cleveland Museum of Art |
 |
SEATED OLD MAN, Middle Formative - Jadeite and albite. H. 10 cm Dumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade statuette of a seated woman. La Venta-Columnar Tomb, Mound A-2 Dumbarton Oaks |
 |
Serpentine Standing Figure Mexico, Olmec, 900-400 BC Overall: 10.6cm x 4.5cm x 2.5cm Cleveland Museum of Art |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade Seated Figure Mexico, Olmec, c. 900-300 BC Cleveland Museum of Art
|
 |
Detail of the Dumbarton Oaks Río Pesquero statuette (Pl. 18) showing the sketchlike quality of its fine incision Dumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Crouching Figures Human Figurine Fragments Made from Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Crouching figure, 900300 B.C. Talc H. 3 5/8" (9.2 cm); W. 1 1/2" (3.8 cm)
|
 |
Olmec Crouching figure, 900300 B.C. - From Mazela, Guerrero, Mexico. Height: 3.8 in (9.5 cm). |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
An Olmec dwarf carrying a maize-filled sack with tumpline Dumbarton Oaks
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Crouching Olmec Green Stone Bust - carved green stone shaman in transformation to a jaguar, depicted with a tightly fitting headdress and feline type ears protruding. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Human Figure Fragments Human Figurine Fragments Made from Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Head Fragment Mexico, Olmec, 1200-300 BC c. 900-300 BC Cleveland Museum of Art |
 |
Jade Figure Fragment Mexico, Olmec, 900-400 BC
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
PORTRAIT HEAD, Middle Formative - Serpentine. 9.6 cmDumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
HEAD OF A MAN, Middle Formative - Serpentine. 7.8 cm - This bust seems to have been originally part of such a sculptureDumbarton Oaks |
 |
FRAGMENTARY FIGURE (possibly top of two part figurine) - Middle Formative - Jadeite. H. 7.5 cm Dumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
   
Olmec - Oaxaca, Mexico - Fragment of human figure,
900300 B.C.
Jadeite
H. 2 5/8" (6.6 cm); W. 1 1/2" (3.8 cm); D. 1 1/2" (3.9 cm) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec
Duckbilled Figures Duckbilled Figures made from Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
DUCK-BILLED PENDANT, Middle Formative - Jadeite. H. 8.2 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
Precious stone pendants with broad duck bills were notably popular and widespread in ancient Mesoamerica. This may derive partly from the broad and thin bill form, which allows light to readily pass through translucent stone. Pendants in the form of duck heads are also known from a number of Classic period Maya sites, including Kaminaljuyu, Uaxactun, Nebaj, Altun Ha, and Dzibilchaltún, where they have generally been misidentified as “alligator” heads. In addition, representations of duck-head pendants are relatively common in Protoclassic and Early Classic Maya art and can be seen at Kaminaljuyu, Uaxactun, and Tikal. These duck-head jewels typically appear as the central pendant on a necklace formed of large beads. An Early Classic mural from Uaxactun portrays no fewer than three individuals wearing duck-head necklaces. Although this jewelry is poorly documented for the Late Classic period, the Aztec fashioned duck-head pendants in translucent amethyst and obsidian during the Late Postclassic. Obsidian examples in various stages of manufacture were excavated at Late Postclassic Otumba, Mexico. Also large stone pieces have also been found attributed to the Olmec. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Ornamental Mirrors Ornamental Mirrors made from Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
JADE MIRROR, Middle Formative - Jadeite. H. 8 cm; W. 7.5 cm; Max. thickness 1.1 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
To the Olmec, mirrors fashioned of blue-green jade probably served as condensed symbols for the world axis. However, rather than referring simply to centrality, such mirrors also alluded to the overlapping themes of water, maize, and wealth. In contrast to Olmec hematite, ilmenite, and magnetite mirrors, which evoke the importance of these ores as precious materials among the Early Formative Olmec, jade mirrors embody the Middle Formative concern with corn and related verdant items of wealth, these being jade and quetzal plumes. The relation of this complex of precious green items to mirrors and centrality did not end with the Olmec, but continued in later traditions of ancient Mesoamerica. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec
Stone Maskettes Ornamental Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
MONKEY MASQUETTE PENDANT, Middle Formative Jadeite. H. 2.9 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
 |
FAT GOD MASQUETTE, Middle Formative Jadeite. H. 5.4 cm
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Fat God head, 900300 B.C. Jadeite |
 |
STONE MASQUETTE, Middle Formative, Porphyry. 11.2 cm
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec
Votive Axes Ornamental Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade votive axe -
Olmec
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade votive axe -
Olmec Private Collection |
 |
Jade votive axe -
Olmec,
1200-400 BC - From Mexico - Height: 29 cm Width: 13.5
cm
The Olmec fashioned votive axes in the form of figures carved from jade, jadeite, serpentine and other greenstones. The figures have a large head and a small, stocky body that narrows into a blade shape. They combine features of a human and other animals, such as jaguar, eagle or toad. The mouth is slightly opened, with a flaring upper lip and the corners turned down. The flaming eyebrows seen on this example are also a recurrent feature, and have been interpreted as a representation of the crest of the harpy eagle. Christy Collection at the British Museum |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec
Winged Pendants Ornamental Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  |
WINGED PLAQUE, Middle Formative - Quartzite. W. 26.7 cmDumbarton Oaks |
 |
Olmec Jade Winged Pectoral | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Yuguito Objects Ornamental Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
STONE YUGUITO, Early Formative 10.2 cm Reportedly found at Tlatilco in 1953Dumbarton Oaks
|
 |
Stone yuguito with holes supplied for earspools. Note the recessed zones for the inlay in the hair and headdress areas
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Ornamental Objects |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec incised vessel with pinched top of translucent aragonite Guerrero region Early Preclassic ca 1200-900 BC 9 inches |
 |
Olmec Dark Jade Pendant - Dark blue-green
(almost black) jade stone, having a string cut spine on the reverse. Private Collection |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 CELT PENDANT, Middle Formative - Diopside jadeite. 16.4 cm Dumbarton Oaks |
 |
Ornamental Pendant STONE EFFIGY SPEAR-THROWER, Possibly Middle Formative - Chloromycenite schist. 54.7 cmDumbarton Oaks |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
EFFIGY (Ornamental) SPEAR-THROWER (Atlatl) Middle Formative - Jadeite 33 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
WINGED PENDANT, Middle Formative - Diopside jadeite. L. 26.8 cm; Thickness 1.2 cmDumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 A fragmentary jadeite maize ear fetish. Note the partial head of the Olmec Maize God at the bottom. Peabody Museum, Harvard University |
 |
FISH EFFIGY BOTTLE , Early Formative, 17.5 cm - 1150 to 900 B.C.Dumbarton Oaks |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Form More Information about Olmec
Jade: www.doaks.org/OlmecArt.pdf |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Jade Elongated Mask Ornament/Pendant Mexico, Olmec, c. 900-300 BC Cleveland Museum of Art |
 |
Jade Bust Figure , Middle Formative Serpentine. H. 5 cmDumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Ear Flares Metropolitan Museum |
 British Museum Collection |
Jade pectoral -
Olmec, Middle
Preclassic period (1000-600 BC) From Mexico - Height: 10.5 cm Width: 11 cm This pectoral (chest ornament), broken on both sides, was carved by an Olmec artist and reused by the Maya, as shown by the two Maya glyphs on the left side. The edges framing the head at the top and bottom indicate that it could also have been part of a larger pectoral. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Incised Celt, 10th–6th
century B.C.,
Mexico; Olmec Jade (jadeite); H. 14 3/8 in. (36.5 cm) The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection |
 |
Olmec - 900-400 BCE West Mexico - Iguala, Guerrero Smithsonian |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Pectoral
Private Collection |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Small Mask Ornament Mexico, Olmec, 1200-300 BC c. 900-300 BC Cleveland Museum of Art |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Blood Letting Instruments Objects of Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico used for Auto-sacrifice |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Perforators were used in self-sacrifice rites, which involved drawing blood from several parts of the body. Olmec jade perforators are often found in graves as part of the funerary offerings. Bloodletting implements were also fashioned out of bone, flint, greenstones, stingray spines and shark teeth. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
HUMMINGBIRD BLOODLETTER, Middle Formative Jadeite. L. 6.6 cmDumbarton Oaks
|
|
Jade perforator (Blood Letter) -
Olmec,
1200-400 BC - From Mexico - Height: 38 cm Width: 3 cm
British Museum Collection |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
HUMMINGBIRD BLOODLETTER, Middle Formative Jadeite. L. 17.3 cmDumbarton Oaks |
 |
Olmec Jade Perforator Private Collection |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Jade Beads Ornamental Beads of Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
JADE TUBE (BEAD?) Middle Formative Jadeite. L. 24.2 cmDumbarton Oaks |
 |
TUBULAR BEADS, Middle Formative - Jadeite 16.3 cm & 14.3 cmDumbarton Oaks |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Celts Ornamental or Functional Celts Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec
Celt - Stone -
Olmec Culture - Gulf Coast of Mexico 1200 - 600 B.C.E. 9.25"h
William Siegal Galleries Collection
|
 |
Olmec Celt, 900300 B.C. Jadeite H. 11 1/8" (28.3 cm); W. 3 1/2" (8.9 cm) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
JADEITE CELT, Middle Formative - Jadeite. 22.6 cmDumbarton Oaks |
 |
JADEITE CELT, Middle Formative - Jadeite. 28.2 cm - Attributed to Rancho Potrerillos, VeracruzDumbarton Oaks
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
JADEITE CELT, Middle Formative - Jadeite. 21.5 cm - Attributed to Rancho Potrerillos, VeracruzDumbarton Oaks
|
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Olmec Jade Celt Private Collection |
 |
Olmec Jade Celt Private Collection |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Jade & Stone Weapons Weapons made from Jade and Other Stones from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Olmec Standing figure (possibly a Mace
Head), 900300 B.C. Jadeite H. 3 3/8" (8.6 cm); W. 1 3/8" (3.5 cm) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Olmec
Celt - Stone -
Olmec Culture - Gulf Coast of Mexico 1200 - 600 B.C.E. 9.25"h
William Siegal Galleries Collection
|
A fragmentary jadeite maize ear fetish (possibly a Mace Head). Note the partial head of the Olmec Maize God at the bottom. Peabody Museum, Harvard University |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Olmec Architectural Mosaics Jade and Other Stone Used In Architectural Designs from Olmec culture of Southern Mexico |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
Architectural greenstone mosaic floor at La Venta |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
to
enlarge
