Jade Necklace with Axe Pendant Date Unknown

Editor: This jade necklace with an axe pendant is held here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Seeing the worn texture of the jade makes me wonder how old it is and the purpose behind its creation. How do you interpret this work? Curator: As a materialist, I am interested in this necklace from the standpoint of its production and the resources involved. Jade requires laborious extraction and shaping, particularly without modern tools. Who mined and crafted this object, and what did that labor represent within their society? Editor: So, focusing less on the aesthetics and more on the human aspect of its creation? Curator: Exactly. The axe pendant is also interesting. What social strata had access to such materials, and what did this object communicate about the wearer’s position or the power associated with the axe itself as both tool and potential weapon? Its inherent properties of being an ornamental and valuable objects provides a lens through which we understand it cultural and material history. Editor: It’s interesting to consider jewelry as a reflection of social power rather than just ornamentation. It makes you rethink what we consider valuable. Curator: Absolutely. Think about the trade networks required to obtain the raw jade, the skills passed down through generations to work it, and the implications of that pendant design in shaping perceptions of leadership or authority. This reframes our understanding and shifts how we look at these items. Editor: This really changes my perspective; I’ll definitely consider the process and labor behind art in the future. Curator: Great! Viewing art as a product of its material context always adds a deeper understanding.