A Mayan jade regal belt pendant achieved a new world auction record for any pre-Columbian work of art at Christie’s November 12 sale of pre-Columbian art from a European private collection. The early classic belt pendant, circa 400-500 AD, brought $1,575,500 and was purchased by the US trade.

Fatma Turkkan-Wille, consultant for pre-Columbian art, said, “Between the animated room and the active telephones, this much-anticipated sale was eagerly besieged by collectors and institutions from around the world. The exquisite provenance of the objects – many coming from the Carlo Gay collection, the doyen of Guerrero art – their rarity and the universal beauty they emanate, excited seasoned collectors and seduced new buyers at all levels. The spectacular result for the Mayan jade regal belt established a new world auction record for any pre-Columbian work of art while the overall sale result pushed the boundaries even further, setting a new record for any sale of pre-Columbian art.”

The sale totaled $3,229,091 and was 93 percent sold by value and 73 percent sold by lot.