Pendant with Seated Lord

Mayan artists mined precious stones from the Motagua River Valley. They searched for the most striated, unique, and vibrant pieces of jade, especially. An artist carved this small ornament from a bright green jade that tapers into blue-gray. A young lord is depicted in profile, a style characteristic of Mayan portraits. He sits on a throne and wears a feather headdress, thick bracelets, anklets, and a necklace. Mayan nobility were believed to have a closer connection to their gods than the common people. Jade was a sacred stone, therefore depicting nobles in jade reinforced this idea.