2748 - Olmec Jade Circular Pendant with Transformation Deity. Southern Mexico to Guatemala, circa 900-400 B.C. or later Large and circular in profile with carved head and body of a deity with the body of a jaguar and the head of a human, facing with emphasised hair and ears; old inked legend 'GHI.002'; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. similar hybrid figure in the collection of Dumarton Oaks, especially no.PC.B.603, Kneeling Transformation Figure with similar face; Furst, P.T., Visions of a Huichol Shaman, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2003, for discussion of the type; see also Von Winning, H., Pre Columbian Art of Mexico and Central America, Abrams New York, 1968, p. 54, for an assemble of pre classic finely carved beads. 309 grams total, pendant: 58.6 mm (2 1/4 in.).

Olmec Jade Circular Pendant with Transformation Deity. Southern Mexico to Guatemala, circa 900-400 B.C. or later Large and circular in profile with carved head and body of a deity with the body of a jaguar and the head of a human, facing with emphasised hair and ears; old inked legend 'GHI.002'; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. similar hybrid figure in the collection of Dumarton Oaks, especially no.PC.B.603, Kneeling Transformation Figure with similar face; Furst, P.T., Visions of a Huichol Shaman, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2003, for discussion of the type; see also Von Winning, H., Pre Columbian Art of Mexico and Central America, Abrams New York, 1968, p. 54, for an assemble of pre classic finely carved beads. 309 grams total, pendant: 58.6 mm (2 1/4 in.). Ex William and Carol Thbadeau, acquired 1960s-1980s. Ex private collection, Georgia, USA. Ex Americas Artifacts, Roswell, GA, USA. with Artemis Gallery, 28 November 2016. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13463-262416. The 'transformation figure' is the art-historical name given to the 'were-jaguar' combination of human and feline attributes, probably a shaman in the process of adopting his spirit animal persona. TimeLine Auctions follows a rigorous vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists. See our website for more information.