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© Museum Associates 2026
Collections

Necklace with Claw-Shaped Beads300–900 CE

On view:
Geffen Galleries
Necklace of carved blue-gray jade beads in cylindrical and rounded forms, with three downward-pointing conical pendants, the longest at center
Title
Necklace with Claw-Shaped Beads
Culture
Maya
Place Made
Mexico
Date Made
300–900 CE
Medium
Jadeite
Dimensions
1/2 x 26 in. x 1.27 x 66.04 cm)
Credit Line
Purchased with funds provided by Camilla Chandler Frost
Accession Number
M.2010.115.286
Classification
Stone
Collecting Area
Art of the Ancient Americas
Curatorial Notes

This necklace is composed of spherical and tubular greenstone beads, along with three pendants that mimic the form of jaguar claws. Jade ornamentation was a hallmark of Classic Maya royal costume, and necklaces like this one would have adorned high-status individuals. The original thread that held this assemblage of beads together was a perishable fiber that has since disintegrated; the necklace has been restrung in modern times.

Alyce de Carteret

2024