Were-Jaguar maskette
jade
c. 900-600 BCE
Olmec
Mexico

#handmade #carved #jade #olmec #werejaguar #maskette #precolumbian #ancientart #art #sculpture #transformation #relgion #ritual #magic #mesoamerica #mesoamericanjade #precolumbianjade #nephrite

In pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, jade was highly valued, often more than gold, and held symbolic and religious significance. It was associated with fertility, water, power, and the supernatural, and was used in jewelry, religious rituals, and burial rites. Jade's green color was linked to maize, water, and vegetation, representing sustenance, fertility, and life. It was also associated with water, a vital element in many Mesoamerican belief systems. Jade was used in religious rituals, often in the form of beads or carved figures, and was placed in the mouths of the dead, suggesting a connection to the afterlife. The Maya, for example, believed jade connected them to gods, the natural world, and the supernatural. Jade was a symbol of power and status, often worn by royalty and elites. The Aztecs used it as a tribute item and valued it highly. The Maya used jade in jewelry, masks, and ear flares, which were thought to be portals to the spiritual realm. In Costa Rica, jade was used to decorate the body and was associated with power. The Aztecs used jade in jewelry and other objects of luxury.

Maskette
Jade, shell, obsidian
Maya
Guatemala or Mexico

#Maya #maskette #jade #obsidian #shell #handmade #ancientart #art #mesoamerica #mexico #guatemala #supernatural #rebirth #fertility #maize

Ancient Olmec jade maskette circa 900 BCE

Ancient Olmec jade maskette with elongated head
Early formative 1200-900 BCE

#olmec #prehispanic #precolumbian #mesoamericanart #ancientart #ancientartoftheamericas #carved #jade #maskette #BCE #art