Ministers hand back bizarre gifts including a jade burial mask Jade masks, like the one now held by the department, are relics of the ancient Mayan civilisation for whom jade meant life, fertility, and power and was revered above gold. The Mayans, who occupied central America from 2000BC to until the arrival of the Spanish in the 15th century, buried their elite in lavish tombs which were filled with precious goods to represent the continued worship of these nobles and help them in their journey to the afterlife, including the jade masks. The masks are now considered rare collectors" items and have sold for as much as £20,000. One mask was famously looted from the site of Río Azul in Guatemala before resurfacing first in America then at a museum in Barcelona in 1999 where it is thought to remain despite the Guatemalan government's attempts to get it back. The mask given to Mr Browne is currently being "held" by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. William Hague was probably less upset to have to hand in a brush make-up set he was given by the Japanese foreign minister last April. The valuable beauty kit is now being "retained by the department" alongside a blanket which the foreign secretary received from his American counterpart the same month. Mr Hague has been showered with gifts in the last two years, from a Harrods gift box, the contents of which were used for "official entertainment" and given to charity, to an alpaca throw and an S.T. Dupont ballpoint pen, some of which sell for more than £1000. The Conservative MP for Richmond was also the lucky recipient of a fossilised shell, cufflinks and a black leather attaché case last year. While his former parliamentary under-secretary Alistair Burt, who was fired from his post last Monday, was sent a pearl sea diving suit, worth about £1000, by the Bahraini justice minister. Conservative MP Mr Burt obviously looked like he needed fattening up late last year when he received three hampers in just three months, which were used for official entertainment or given to charity.