Carved Plaque
Arts of the Americas
The Olmec, whose civilization flourished on the Gulf Coast of Mexico from 1200 to 400 B.C.E., excelled at jade carving. The rarity, beauty, and hardness of the stone, with its variety of colors ranging from light green to a rich blue green, made it a desirable material for small objects. Jade was symbolically related to water, plants, and fertility. Spoons, often with incised designs, were likely used by shamans to ingest hallucinogens that induced visions and allowed them to communicate with the supernatural world. The shape of the plaque seen here is interpreted as a corn symbol, an indication of the crop’s importance. Images incised on Olmec celts (ceremonial axes) show figures wearing plaques like this one as headdress ornaments.
CULTURE
Olmec
MEDIUM
Jadeite
DATES
800–500 B.C.E.
PERIOD
Preclassic Period or Middle Formative
DIMENSIONS
3 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 1/4 in. (7.8 x 3.8 x 0.6 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of the Americas
ACCESSION NUMBER
L73.15.2
CREDIT LINE
Collection of Christopher B. Martin
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Carved jadeite plaque, trapezoidal in form and crowned at the top with a triangle on the right and curved scroll on the left; parallel lines below are carved in relief and there is a small, round indentation near the top. This object has been identified with headdress ornaments depicted on incised celts, and the form has been interpreted as a corn symbol. There are drill holes indicating that it was probably attached to a headdress.
Text by GdeH 9/2011:
During the time of the Olmec civilization (800-500 B.C.E.), the first maize imagery appears in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico in what are today’s states of Veracruz and Tabasco. This Olmec jade amuletic plaque is carved in the shape of what is believed to be a corn symbol. Images carved on ancient Olmec celts show plaques such as this worn in headdress ornaments, a function confirmed by the drill holes on the back and sides to facilitate attachment. Precious jade used as a medium to depict a corn stalk suggests that corn, and its attendant symbolism, was associated with the ruling elite.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Olmec. Carved Plaque, 800–500 B.C.E. Jadeite, 3 3/16 x 1 1/2 x 1/4 in. (7.8 x 3.8 x 0.6 cm). Collection of Christopher B. Martin, L73.15.2. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, L73.15.2_transpc002.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, L73.15.2_transpc002.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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