Description:

Pre-Columbian, Ecuador, Manabi culture, ca. 500 BCE and 500 CE. A beautiful necklace comprised of 17 ceramic spindle whorls strung together via black S-lon macrame cord with strong macrame knots and a black button clasp. Each spindle whorl is incised with a unique motif - most representing skillfully delineated seabirds but one or two amphibians - in a striking black and white palette. Spindle whorls were not just utilitarian items to the ancients of the Americas. Beautiful textiles were an important element of elite and ceremonial costume, and the importance of whorls as tools to create them is demonstrated by ritual deposits. These were valuable objects, not to be discarded, but rather safeguarded and interred with veneration. Size: 17" L (43.2 cm); spindle whorls measure ~ .625" in diameter (1.6 cm)

Provenance: private Colorado, USA collection

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#144480

  • Condition: Spindle whorls are ancient. S-lon macrame cord and button are modern. Spindle whorls show slight age wear, but are generally in very good condition.

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July 25, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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