Catalog (176)

This is the only bone scalloped triskele gorget known to exist. I purchased it on 8-1-92 from Who's Who, Duke Snider, who purchased it from Tom Davis. It is a whopping 4 1/2 inches in diameter. The name of the finder will go to the buyer along with the original receipt and paperwork. Everything about this piece is 1000% correct. It is a solid piece in excellent condition with no restoration or repair. Needless to say, this is one of the finest bone artifacts known to exist. Please view my youtub...

This 18K gold bell is a real beauty with original clapper intact which gives an extremely pleasing tinkle. It is 7/8". This is especially beautiful gold. It weighs 13.4 grams. The sound of bells were used by shamans in their magical rituals to open portals or manifest will. It has a large decorated loop on top allowing it to be worn with a large chain. An outstanding piece of pre-Columbian jewelry.

This extremely rare frame of bone is from the 1st century through Byzantine. The Roman goddess has independent movable balls in the cage and is extremely delicate and very fine. It was purchased in Luxembourg. Many were found by the world famous Dr. Allen Heflin while he was stationed in Rome. This is a once-in-a-lifetime find that took me many years to assemble. Please view my youtube video of this frame at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEM_VYXP2Sw

This copper awl with antler handle and perforated for suspension was found by Dr. Allen Heflin in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan in 1947. It is 8 1/2 long. Please view my youtube video of this item at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C30caNNItA.

This is a very nice solid figure blowing into a conch shell. It is attributed to the Protoclassic Nayarit culture of West Mexico, C100BC-250AD. It has the original pigments that are much brighter than the photos show. It is a beautiful patinized orange and black. There is a chip off the right rear foot. It was found by Dr. Allen Heflin on 7-26-53. It is 4 1/2" long. Please view my youtube video of this item at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp0CWm5KCiY

This ceramic warrior is in the process of throwing a rock with another in his hand and a basket full on his back. It is from the estate of the late Lynn Langdon. The figure was acquired in Mexico in the mid-20th century and is attributed to the Colima horizon, c.300BC-300AD. It is 4" tall. It retains some red pigment. It has a small chip off the back which I have and can be glued back on. Please view my youtube video of this item at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkt0z56QMvE.

This finely carved shell skull was found by the famous Dr. Allen Heflin on 9-16-61 in Cuautitlan, Mexico. This Aztec piece dates to 1200AD. It is drilled for suspension. A nice little ancient piece that could be used in jewelry. It is 1/2" long and solid.

This nicely translucent Rose Springs was found in Colorado. It measures 1 5/16" X 11/16". It is made from a beautiful translucent waxy agate. It comes with a Jackson COA. A very nice point.

These are five extremely rare copper skull bells/pendants that were found in an elite tomb at Monte Alban, Oaxaca in 1936. Each bell in about 1/2". They date to 1000-1500AD. Copper was mined largely from Guerrero. No cleaning or restoration, exactly as found. A must have for any pre-Columbian metallurgy collection.

This extremely rare incised Eagle effigy Aztec pipe was found by the famous Dr. Allen Hefin in western Mexico on 5/25/63. This piece is flawless in every way except for a tiny nick on the bottom of the stem. The patina is wonderful. It is 7" long and the bowl is 1" wide. This pipe is classified as a Michoacán procedentes and only a handful are known to exist. Three Aztec pipes were sold at Sotheby's auction on March 23rd, 2015 for $12,176. None were near as nice as this one. Pipes are among the...

Shell gorgets are among the rarest and most beautiful of prehistoric art objects encountered in the United States. Most have been found in the Southeastern United States and are associated with various cultures from Woodland through Late Mississippian. This outstanding example is 4 7/8" long. It has no restoration or repair. It has beautiful patina. This one is the "Buffalo Style" which is the most elaborately decorated of the shell masks. It has the elongated nose, puckered mouth, hairline, ...

This is a very fine and extremely rare pipe from Venezuela known as a pipas angulares de barro procedentes. There is only one book written on Aztec pipes. "Pipas Precortesianas" was written by Muriel N. Porter. Porter states that Aztec pipes are extremely scarce and "we can almost say that pipes were unknown." There is a drawing in this book of this class/type of pipe. Of course, tobacco wasn't available until the Spaniards introduced it. Most of the pipes that have been found are typical shapes...

This phenomenal 7 3/16" Llama Bone Flute is highly engraved with human effigy carvings with crown or headdress and was recovered in Pisac, Peru near Machu Picchu. It is highly polished. It is so translucent that when backlit with a flashlight, light passes through both sides of the bone. It has beautiful patina. A lot of work and pride went into creating this beauty. I purchased it from Jim Bennett who has written several books on detecting fakes and reproductions.

Very unique translucent Spondylus shell human carving which is red/cream-colored found in the coastal area of Peru. 1 3/8" by 3/4". Collected in the 1950s by L. L. Dees. From the Len Weidner Collection. This is one of the largest and finest collections in the country. Len and his wife, Janie, publish the 'Who's Who in Indian Relics' 11 volume set. Their 10 page color collection can be viewed in Number 10. Purchased from Jim Bennett.

This is a beautiful Incan 18K hollow gold female idol. It is 1 1/2" tall and weighs 2 grams. Stands alone. This sale is for this figure only. The other items in the last picture are for size reference only.

This extremely rare Inca carved Llama bone blood cup depicts a battle scene. One figure is holding a copper tumi knife and the other is holding a knife. It is 3 1/4" tall and 1 5/8" wide. It is in very nice condition. Excellent age on surface. Both dressed in full battle regalia locked in mortal hand-to-hand combat. Patina is beautiful. Circa A.D. 1200-1400. Old museum number on bottom "115". From the Len Weidner Collection. This is one of the largest and finest collections in the country. Len a...

This Olmec maskette is 1 7/8" long, 1 5/8" wide and 1" thick. It has been in a fire, possibly sacrificial in nature, with mild damage to one back edge which lends to its authenticity. It is made from Fuchsite which was used by the Olmecs. Fushsite is a form of mica which can readily be seen in the pictures. This piece was almost certainly used in magical shamanistic ceremonies. I just couldn't get a decent picture of how this piece reflects light. It is emerald green (not bluish as in the photos...

This Mayan bone carving is unique in that it has a Mayan glyph carved on the back which translates to "Old God". It is 2 1/4" long. The carving is very well done and has extremely rare iconography. As rare as it gets. A museum quality piece. Purchased from Keith Finello.