Pendant
Unknown Artist
Medium
Jadeite
Dimensions
H. 7/8 in. (2.3 cm); W. 13/16 in. (2.1 cm); D. 1/2 in. (1.2 cm)
Classification
Jade
Culture
Mexico or Guatemala
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Heber R. Bishop, 1902
Accession Number
02.18.302
Art Historical Context
This exquisite jadeite pendant, a gem measuring just 7/8 inch high, 13/16 inch wide, 1/2 inch deep, hails from the ancient cultures of Mexico or Guatemala. Carved from prized jadeite—a vibrant green stone revered for its rarity and translucency—this small adornment likely served as personal jewelry, perhaps worn as a necklace by an elite individual. Its compact form speaks to the wearer's status, as jadeite was laboriously shaped using simple stone tools, showcasing the artisan's remarkable skill in a hard, unyielding material. In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, jadeite held profound cultural and ...