Jade Inlay
Unknown Artist
before 16th century
Medium
Jade
Dimensions
Height 1-1/2 in.
Classification
Stone-Ornaments
Culture
Mexican
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993
Accession Number
1994.35.523
Art Historical Context
This delicate **Jade Inlay**, crafted by an unknown Mexican artist before the 16 century, exemplifies the masterful stonework of pre-Columbian Meso. Standing just 1-1/2 inches tall, this small jade ornament from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of Arts of Africa,, and the Americas, likely designed to be set into larger objects like masks, jewelry, or ceremonial items. Jade, prized for its vibrant green hue symbolizing vitality and preciousness in ancient Mexican cultures, was laboriously carved from hard stone using simple tools, showcasing the artisans' extraordinary skill and pati...