Description:

Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, ca. 600 to 900 CE. A pair of jadeite ear spools/ plugs with a relatively flat face divided into four quadrants with carved lines. A perforation extends through the center into a short plug, the plugs have small perforations to their side walls as well for wearing. Most ear spools we see are of a simpler shape; these are a fairly rare design with the incised lines. Only the most elite personages in Maya society were able to wear ear spools made of jadeite. The Maya believed that ears were the conduits for spiritual energy, and so ear ornaments like these took on significant meaning. Some scholars have argued that the stretching of earlobes -- done progressively through spool sizes to limit tearing and pain -- may have been a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood for the Maya. Beautiful and vibrantly green, with swirls of white, these ear spools are stunning. Size: .875" L x .625" W (2.2 cm x 1.6 cm)

Provenance: Private New York, USA Collector from 1966

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#159202

  • Condition: Minor nicks to peripheries and surface wear commensurate with age. Mineral deposits and beautiful coloration!

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October 15, 2020 10:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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