Ornamental Bead
Culture
Ancient Maya
Date200-1600 CE
Mediumgreenstone
Dimensions4.8 × 2.9 × 0.3 cm (1 7/8 × 1 1/8 × 1/8 in.)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineLent by Harold Kaye in 1958, acquired in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 200B: Disposition of Museum Property
Object number2017.8
DescriptionCarved seated male figure in green stone. Figure sits on a flat structure with crossed legs. Appears in profile with a prominent ear ornament, writst and ankle bracelets, and a feathered headdress.Label TextStephen Salisbury III, founder of the Worcester Art Museum, helped fund the archaeological research of his close friend Edward H. Thompson at Chichén Itzá, in the Yucatán Peninsula. Ancient Maya greenstone—mainly jadeite—beads and carved elements were used to adorn the bodies of the elite, from necklaces and bracelets to garments. Many greenstone beads such as these have been discovered as parts of offerings in cenotes, deep natural underground pools common in the area.ProvenanceHarold Kaye, New York, NY, 1958
On View
On view