Maya Cross Necklace with Beaded Chain
This necklace features a Maya Cross on a hand-beaded chain. The necklace measure 24" in length and has a T-closure, allowing it to be slightly adjustable in length.
This fair trade necklace was handcrafted with the collaboration of the Elder Center Bead Group and indigenous Maya-Itzá women in Guatemala. Made from a native vine from the tropical forest, the cross pattern is a natural feature of the inside of the plant. Called the Cruz Maya (Maya Cross), its use as a spiritual symbol dates back to the Maya civilization more than a thousand years ago. Proceeds from the sale of this product provide income to Maya-Itzá artisans of today and for the Elder Center Bead Group. The Elder Center Bead Group is a group of young women artisans in Santiago Atitlan who earn a fair wage for their work and help provide funding for the Elder Center, which provides a place of community, meals, and healthcare services for 65 elders in Guatemala. A portion of the proceeds also goes to a local community organization, Bio-Itzá, to help protect the rapidly disappearing tropical forest where the vine grows in Petén, Guatemala.
