Accession Number

1986.008.0026b

Description

An elongated jade “blade” from the galleon Santa Margarita is in two equal-size pieces. The flat, polished stone piece is from Central America (i.e., Costa Rica or Guatemala). It originated from a pre-Columbian, Mesoamerican jade celt tradition, though two small holes drilled along one edge suggest it was once suspended as a pendant. A line runs the length of one side, and another line is scored at a 90-degree angle to this, at the mid-way point of the length of the blade. The piece has broken at this inherently weak central point, but it is not known if the break was intentional or the result of the shipwreck. The divided, elongated form might also be representative of wings. This piece is undoubtedly of Native American manufacture and dates from before the Spanish conquest. It was quite old when the 1622 ships sailed. Why it was on Santa Margarita is not clear other than it appears to be an early example of a Spanish colonial antiquarianism, an interest in and desire for Native American antiquities, perhaps even those taken from excavation or grave plunder.

Exhibition Label

Case Caption (2023): N/A
Object Caption (2023):

Parts of a Necklace
Jadeite (before 1620)
Gift of Jamestown Inc.
1986.008.0026a-b

Kings and leaders wore large necklaces whose bead-like elements radiated across the wearer's chest symbolizing his connection with the sun. In pre-Columbian culture, jade was considered more valuable than gold, and its durable qualities were related to masculinity.