Jade Maya (Jade Museum), Antigua

Jade Museum has displays covering over 3,000 years of history and seven distinct cultures. Part jeweler, part museum, Jade Museum has played a leading role in introducing the world to Guatemala's jadeite trade. This company has been present in Antigua since 1974.

Mary Lou Ridinger, an archaeologist, and her husband Jay are the company's founders. The jade that is sustainably mined is used to craft museum-quality jewelry that showcases pre-Colombian art forms. Starting the jade industry again in this area helped restore a lost art.

The jewelry on display in the showroom encompasses many types, from earrings and necklaces to woven bracelets. Sculptures and carvings crafted from jade are also here, from mask replicas to figurines of wildlife and models of Maya artifacts. Visitors shopping for jewelry or collectibles or wanting to learn more about jade craft will be satisfied with their experience.

Image Courtesy of Wikimedia and Simon A. Eugster.

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Sight Name: Jade Maya (Jade Museum)
Sight Location: Antigua, Guatemala (See walking tours in Antigua)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Antigua, Guatemala

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