Jade. Carved totem pole.

The Aztecs, Mayas and other Native American peoples of Mexico and Central America carved jadeite for use as ornaments, amulets, and badges of rank. Nearly all of these Meso-American jades are of various shades of green, with emerald, green the most highly prized colour among the Aztecs. The appreciation of jade died out in Meso-America after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. That said the 20th century brought about a renaissance amongst North American native peoples in the fabrication of jade – above is a late 20th century example of this art.