Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, ca. 7th to 9th century CE. A beautiful jadeite ear spool with concave walls and an unusual square-round overall shape, and a short cylindrical hollow plug, pierced through in two places. The jadeite itself is inherently beautiful, presenting cool seafoam green hues with areas of apple green and marvelous areas of translucency. 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 as 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. Size: 2.25" W x 2.125" H (5.7 cm x 5.4 cm); 2.5" H (6.4 cm) on included custom stand.
This earspool may have been an heirloom, its jade and style associated by the Maya with the older cultures before them, specifically the Olmec. Scholars believe that jade ear spools were passed down through families for centuries, and perhaps provided a means of connecting with ancestors.
Provenance: ex-private San Diego, California, USA collection, acquired at Arte Primitivo in 2010, New York, New York, USA
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#150134
Condition
A few minute nicks to the interior and exterior peripheries. Normal inclusions and a couple of stable pressure fissures. Deposits especially in vicinity of the two small perforations and the large central opening.