Mesoamerica

Detail image of the face of a ceramic figure with a septum ring.

Among the Precolumbian cultures of Mesoamerica elaborate burial traditions developed in which the elite were adorned with precious objects that marked their rank and status and served as passports to the Underworld. Jade, gold, turquoise, obsidian, shell, bone, and crystal were used to make beads, necklaces, pendants, earspools, earrings, and nose rings. Unlike our culture where one can wear 鈥渄esigner鈥 jewelry and adornment, only individuals entitled by birth and rank were permitted to wear jade and gold. 

Image of ceramic figure with large septum ring and headdress.

Nayarit Warrior with Body Ornamentation

200 BC to AD 500

This ceramic figure from Ixtlan del Rio has multiple earrings as well as a large nose ring. The body designs on his torso may represent tattoos.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of a seated figure made of shell with incised details.

Maya Carved Shell Pendant

AD 600-900

Featuring a seated dignitary wearing a headdress, necklace, bracelets and earspools.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of necklace made with tublar greenstone beads and an elongated greenstone ornament.

Greenstone Necklace with Duck Pendant

300 BC 鈥 AD 500

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of two greenstone ornaments, circular in shape with open centers.

Maya Greenstone Earspools

AD 900-1250

Cedric Marks Collection

Image of a small ornament with a crystal set into the top and the bottom flaring to a T.

Lip Plug from Western Mexico

This lip ornament from Michoacan includes copper and quartz crystal.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of shell with pierced and incised designs.

Huastec Shell Pendant

AD 900 鈥 1460

The pendant features dancers holding a skull.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of ornament made of gold with two small figures wearing headdresses.

Cocl茅 Gold Alligator Deities

1000-1200 AD

This lost wax cast tumbaga pendant from Panama features twin figures that combine human bodies with saurian/bat heads.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of small gold ornament in form of figure with face of bat and wearing large, ornate headdress.

Cocl茅 Gold Bat Diety Pendant

AD 500-1521

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of a rectangular gold ornament with impressed design of a figure with sharp teeth.

Cocl茅 Hammered Gold Plaque

AD 1000 – 1200

This square ornament features a saurian design.

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Small ornament made of dark green stone in the shape of an animal with large ears.

Greenstone Howler Monkey Pendant

300 BC 鈥 AD 300

The pendant features one of the monkey twins, either Hun Batz or Hun Chowen 鈥 deities of the arts and patrons of artisans.

Cedric Marks Collection

Image of triangular shark teeth strung into a necklace.

Necklace with Bull Shark Teeth

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of multi-strand necklace made of small gold beads.

Cocl茅 Gold Bead Necklace

200 BC鈥揂D 300

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Image of necklace made with gold beads shaped as tubes, shaped as small pointed elements, and shaped as finger bones.

Cocl茅 Gold Necklace

AD 1鈥500

The small pointed forms may represent shark鈥檚 teeth, while the larger pieces may be stylized phalanges (finger bones).

William P. Palmer, III Collection

Olmec Double-Headed Snake Pendant

1150 鈥 400 BC

The pendant is in the form of a concave mirror and depicts a common Mesoamerican design motif featuring a double-headed snake. Incised areas are highlighted with powdered cinnabar, a mercury compound.

Cedric Marks Collection

Greenstone Necklace from Costa Rica

The central pendant represents a celt, a stone ax form.

William P. Palmer, III Collection