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Journal Entry #30 - Posted on Tuesday March 3rd, 2009 at 5:03 pm by Anne Watcher
San Jose has many interesting and informative museums and the Jade Museum doesn't disappoint. Now located on the first floor of the headquarters of the National Insurance Institute ( Instituto Nacional de Seguros--INS-) it presents an up to date scientific exhibition about Costa Rica's pre-Columbian cultures.
The importance given to jade is demonstrated in the variety of objects produced in that material and in evidence of their use by religious leaders and members of high-ranking families. Objects made from jade, ceramics, stone, gold and other materials are shown. Accompanied by graphics and texts, they demonstrate diverse aspects of the organizational, technological and artistic achievements of the people of that time that inhabited the territory now known as Costa Rica.
Although no sources of jade have been found in Costa Rica (most comes from Guatemala) pieces were found here due to the Olmecs and Mayas traveling south looking for blue jade. Similar rocks have been found in rivers and beaches of Santa Elena, San Carlos and the central Caribbean.
"Social" jade however is found in Costa Rica. This includes precious and semi-precious stones like agate, chalcedony, quartz, serpertine, shells, and lapis lazuli.
Although no sources of jade have been found in Costa Rica (most comes from Guatemala) pieces were found here due to the Olmecs and Mayas traveling south looking for blue jade. Similar rocks have been found in rivers and beaches of Santa Elena, San Carlos and the central Caribbean.
"Social" jade however is found in Costa Rica. This includes precious and semi-precious stones like agate, chalcedony, quartz, serpertine, shells, and lapis lazuli.
One thing I did not realize about jade was the variety of colours that it comes in. There is the "typical" green shade but also one that is quite light and a couple that are almost black with a gold flec running through them.
Designs on the jade pieces represent social status and scenes of every day life. Most pieces carved in the Mesoamerica (Mexico mainly) and found in Costa Rica contain motifs and glyphs that narrate the history of the people. Like many other artifacts from that time periods, the higher ranking you were in the village, the more elaborate the pieces you wore.
Museo del Jade is located at INS Headquarters, First Floor, Avienda 7 and Calle 9. Open M-F 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Admission fee is $7.00
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