Necklace
Artist/Maker
Artist Unknown
Artist Unknown
Dateca. 300-800
CultureCosta Rican
Mediumjade
DimensionsOverall: 12 3/4 x 2 1/8 x 3/8 in. (32.4 x 5.4 x 1 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Dr. and Mrs. Abraham Rotbart
Terms
Object number97.0039.04
On View
Not on viewCollections
DescriptionAround the year 700 CE jade carving virtually disappeared in Costa Rica as metallurgy became the primary artistic medium for ritual and symbolic items. Although gold became the most highly prized ornament, jade still held symbolic importance and it continued to be a revered item found primarily among the ruling classes. This necklace is composed of small, dark green, cylindrical beads, accented by four large square beads and a large, celt-style pendant of lighter green. Because greenstone of all colors was so precious, even very small fragments were worked into delicate beads like these. The artist who created these tiny jade beads surely spent thousands of hours hand-drilling and polishing each piece.- Art of the Ancient Americas
