Description:

Pre-Columbian, Southern Mexico to Guatemala, Maya, Late Classic Period, ca. 550 to 900 CE; Central Mexico, Guerrero region, Guerrero Chontal, Late Preclassic Period, ca. 300 to 100 BCE. A greenstone ear spool and a zoomorphic amulet that resembles a winged creature like a bat - as these animals were linked to both the underworld as well as rain and fertility. The Maya believed that ears were the conduits for spiritual energy, and so ear ornaments like the spool 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. Size of spool: 1" L x 1.5" Diameter (2.5 cm x 3.8 cm)

Provenance: private Golden, Colorado, USA collection, by descent, acquired in Mexico before 1970

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#176061

  • Condition: Chip and loss to post and flared rim on spool. Remains of adhesive from previous display stand on amulet and minor surface nicks.

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January 29, 2023 9:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000