Pre-Columbian, North Coast Peru, Moche, ca. 100 to 500 CE. A lovely and large shell and wood earspool with symbolic avian iconography. The earspool is comprised of a disc-shaped piece of wood inlaid with delicate carved nacre (mother of pearl) and Spondylus shells. The face features an inlaid design of ten birds in profile with one double headed bird at the center. The birds are made of nacre with turquoise stone eyes are inlaid within the face and surrounded by with shards of pink spondylus shell. All along the circumference of the ear spools are rectangular pieces of spondylus and nacre. The verso contains a circular panel of nacre with five piercings in the center. Earspools such as this were commissioned by a powerful lord who wanted to display his prestige and animal attributes. These ear spools are replete with powerful symbolic value, for in the Pre-Columbian world, the birds as sky animals were regarded as messengers between humankind and the deities of the celestial realm, and perhaps these nacre birds whispered wisdom in the lord's ears. Size: 2" Diameter x 0.375" W x 3.5" H (5.1 cm x 1 cm x 8.9 cm)

To the ancients of the Pre-Columbian world, birds, especially hummingbirds (picaflores in Spanish) were associated with the sun. Appreciated for shiny, iridescent feathering and aerial acrobatics, the hummingbird made for the ideal solar metaphor. Since these birds are known to hover, seemingly motionless, and fly up, down and even backwards, the ancients likened their motions to the sun's hovering in the sky at the solstices when it is also known to reverse its celestial direction. In addition, hummingbirds can assume a torpid state when it is cold at night or during brief periods in the winter. However, they come back to life in the spring warmth. This unique ability to "die" and "resurrect" signified rebirth to the ancients, precisely at a time when planting and, in this sense, "renewed life" occurred.

Spondylus shells have been revered by Andean peoples since the Pre-Columbian era. In addition to being featured in their artwork and used as currency, Spondylus pieces served as sacred offerings to Pachamama, the earth/time mother, a version of Mother Nature. The Spondylus shell carries numerous symbolic meanings. A symbol of fertility and elite social status, it was also believed to be an omen of rain, warning the indigenous of El Nino. In fact, the Spondylus shell only appears when the water becomes warmer during December - the time of the El Nino current - immediately before the rainy season.

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex-private Hans Juergen Westermann collection, Germany, collected from 1950 to 1960s

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#164490

Old inventory label on verso. Losses to shells on peripheries. Stable fissures on two birds. Losses of eyes. Chip to shell on verso. Great preservation of birds and nice iridescence.