01 Photograph Gallery

02 Object Information

Description

Necklace with seventy-four (74) tubular beads and two (2) pendants. The largest pendant has an anthropomorphic figure. The second one has a rectangular shape with horizontal incisions and three biconical holes.

The main pendant represents a standing man with green jade inlays in the eyes, navel and his arms on his belly. He wears a cloth headdress, or hat, and a skirt.

The body, slightly contorted, is due to the fact that it was worked from the center of a conch-shell. It has a biconical hole at the back of the head.

Period

CLASSIC (150/200 A.D.-900 A.D.)

Provenance

Maya Lowlands

Medium / Material

Conch shell, Jade / Jadeite, Shell

Technique

Incised, Inlaid, Worked

Dimensions

Length of necklace: 43 cm

03 References and Exhibitions

References to similar objects

According to information provided by the head of the Cultural Property Register (IDAEH), a very similar pendant was found in the Petexbatún region, Petén, Guatemala. It is distinguished by having small deer antlers on its head. It is in the storage room of the National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology of Guatemala (MUNAE).

Exhibitions

1. “THE WORLD OF THE MAYAN ARTIST.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center. Antigua Guatemala (February 3 – June 16, 2013)

2. “THE WORLD OF THE MAYAN ARTIST.” Casa N’oj Cultural Center, Quetzaltenango (August 12- September 6, 2013).

3. “THE MAYAS AND WATER”. Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Antigua Guatemala (July 17- November 8, 2015)

4. “THE HUMAN FIGURE AND BODY DECORATION IN PRE-COLUMBIAN TIMES.” Spanish Cooperation Training Center, Antigua Guatemala (August 25, 2016- February 26, 2017)

5. “MAYA: THE GREAT JAGUAR RISES” (2nd. Tour) Kansas City Union Station (August 2022-March, 2023) and California Science Center (April-September, 2023)

6. “MASTERWORKS BY THE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIST.” La Ruta Maya Foundation, Guatemala City (November 6, 2024 to May 31st, 2025)

Publications

1. “Presentation of The World of the Mayan Artist.” El Quetzalteco Newspaper. Wednesday, August 14, 2013. Page 11.

2. “Pre-Hispanic Culture Shines”. Culture Section. Prensa Libre. Tuesday February 5, 2013. Page 46.

3. “A Look at the Mayan Artist.” El Periódico newspaper. Monday February 11, 2013.

4. 15th Anniversary Magazine of El Periódico. “The Birth of the Mayan Museum of America.” November 2011.