Lisa Black Jewellery

Intricate bead making traditions and techniques were established and flourished during the prime of Olmec- the great civilizers of Central America. Their cities and civilizations thrived from 1,200 to 400 BC amongst the forests, rivers and mountains between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean.

The Olmec people created a sophisticated trading system that extended over much of Middle America and the ‘green stone’ or ‘jade’ was an important commodity within this established order. As the culture grew more complex so did the craftsmanship of these precious elements. To the Olmec, jade was considered more precious than gold and skilled artisans would fashion it into prized adornment, often achieving a high polished finish not easily matched with today’s technology, especially considering inherent irregularities and hardness in the stone.

As with many of ancient beads and carvings of this level of magnificence, the quality and size would clearly communicate social distinction. Finely crafted beads, intricately carved, would be made into exquisite body ornament that would reflect wealth and status of the Olmec aristocracy. The prized green jade adornment would always remain the most desirable personal decoration of the elite Olmec and later the Incan civilizations.