How did Central American artists use jade and gold before the Spanish conquest?

In Central American and Mesoamerican civilizations, jade and gold were highly valued materials used by artists to create objects of religious, social, and ceremonial significance before the Spanish conquest.12

Jade

Jade, particularly jadeite sourced from the Motagua Valley in Guatemala, was often considered more precious than gold. It was carved into a variety of forms, including:12
* Ornaments and Jewelry: Artists crafted plaques, pendants, and figurines, with emerald-green jade being the most highly prized color among the Aztec.2
* Ceremonial Objects: Jade was used for amulets, badges of rank, and small masks.2
* Early Sculptures: The Olmec culture produced delicate greenstone "baby-face" figures and "were-jaguar" figurines.3
* Costa Rican Art: The region is famous for its polished jade "ax gods," which served as sought-after status symbols.3

Gold

While gold was less abundant in Mesoamerica than in the Andean region, it was utilized with high technical skill, particularly by the Mixtec people. Techniques and uses included:14
* Advanced Craftsmanship: Artists mastered lost-wax casting, cold hammering, and the creation of bimetallic objects by casting silver onto gold.4
* Decorative Applications: Gold was used to create intricate pendants and was often combined with materials like turquoise mosaics, quartz, and other precious stones.14
* Symbolic Function: These objects often served religious purposes and were frequently included in burial rites to signify the status of the deceased.1