Description:

Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, ca. 7th to 9th century CE. A beautiful jadeite - in the color sometimes called "apple green" - ear spool with a concave, round shape and short, cylindrical, hollow plug, pierced through in two places. Jade ear spools are a symbol of Maya royalty. Jade was revered by the Maya not only for its beauty, but also because it had spiritual power - it was believed to be the embodiment of the wind and the "breath" that formed the Maya soul. Ear spools are often shown in profile in Mayan art, usually with a bead or serpent emerging from that central hollow plug; this is interpreted to be a symbolic supernatural passageway for the breath of the soul to travel through. This item may have been an heirloom, its jade and style associated by the Maya with the older cultures before them, specifically the Olmec. We believe that jade ear spools were passed down through families for centuries. In that sense, they may also have been seen as a way to communicate with the ancestors. Size: 1.5" W x 0.8" H (3.8 cm x 2 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Ramp collection, Columbia, Indiana, USA

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#145007

  • Condition: Small loss from one edge as shown. Otherwise in beautiful condition with light deposits.

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April 4, 2019 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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