Olmec Infant
The Olmecs are considered not only one of Mesoamerica's oldest civilizations but also its earliest jade-sculptors, perhaps even in the whole Western hemisphere. Because Olmec adults are so frequently portrayed with infantile features - such as enlarged heads and baby fat - it is difficult to determine whether this sculpture is of a scowling man or a crying infant. It comes from Cerro de las Mesas, Veracruz. NMAH
This is only named an axe because of the way it begins thick at the bottom and tapers at the top; its real purpose may have been ceremonial. The carving on the face shows the fanged snarl of a jaguar child. Jade is an extremely durable mineral, and the precision in carvings like this show the expertise Mesoamerican artists had with the substance. Another critical implication of this craftsmanship is that art became an increasingly élitist trade among the Olmecs, for only the well-trained artisans like jadeworkers became the demand. NMAH
I feel that this is one of the most outstanding examples of jade craftsmanship in the ancient New World. Twenty-five jade pieces were individually carved and polished before being assembled into this likeness of Piquete Ziña, the Zapotec Bat God. These pieces had been discovered in a burial site for five individuals at Building H of Monte Albán. NMAH
To Mesoamericans, jade was more precious than even gold and silver. The stone was sacred, often associated with the life-giving waters, and even believed to have healing powers. Trinkets of jade were often bartered for other goods, and that may have been the purpose of this small carving. The fine detail hints at the carver's attention; the human face is adorned with earrings, a headdress and an emblem. NMAH
The jade pieces for this mask were individually carved, down to the fine facial details, before being set into a wooden base. The mask was found over the skull of Pacal, a ruler of the Maya city Palenque (.WAV), in his sarcophagus. The sarcophagus itself was buried in a tomb set deep under the Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque, Chiapas. The mask is in fact a reconstruction of the pieces since the wooden base had rotted, scattering the jade fragments. Even the rings on Pacal's fingers were carved from jade. NMAH
Wearing jewelry helped to recognize Maya nobility and even the individual nobleman. Pectorals like this one were common decorations, though distinct enough to identify the owner as he or she wore it. The pectoral here belonged to Pacal's father, Kan Bahlum Moo' ("Yellow Jaguar Macaw"), and it was offered into the Forgotten Temple at Palenque. NMAH
These pieces are reminiscent of the Zapotec ornament above. While jade is authenticated in the forms of jadeite and nephrite, similarly colored stones have occasionally been confused for jade. Serpentine, aventurine, chrysoprase and chrysolite are frequent culprits. (The September 1987 issue of National Geographic has a thorough study into the process of verifying jade.) The pieces featured here were part of an offering in Building C at Xochicalco, Morelos. NMAH
