American jade is made up of a group of semiprecious hard stones.
Chief among them is a dense rock composed almost entirely of the mineral
jadeite, a sodium aluminum silicate of the pyroxene family noted for
its beautiful color when worked. The rock is extremely durable and very
rare, and it was used in two ancient American regions: in Mesoamerica,
where it is believed to have been made initially into simple items such
as beads around 1500 B.C., and in the part
of Central America now known as Costa Rica, where the first sculptural
forms were probably carved about a thousand years later.
As in China, where semiprecious hard stones—also known collectively today as jade—were worked from very early times, the initial use of such stones is thought to be an outgrowth of the production of tools, weapons, and ornaments of more common stone. Its compact structure, hardness, and admirable surface gleam when polished recommended jade for works of special status.
As in China, where semiprecious hard stones—also known collectively today as jade—were worked from very early times, the initial use of such stones is thought to be an outgrowth of the production of tools, weapons, and ornaments of more common stone. Its compact structure, hardness, and admirable surface gleam when polished recommended jade for works of special status.
