Pre-Columbian, Maya Territories, ca. 200 to 900 CE. A pair of jadeite ear spools/plugs, each with a flared trumpet shape with a concave face, drilled through lengthwise and at the neck. The jadeite here is remarkable - a rich, deep green with sparking inclusions that flash in the light. Only the most elite personages in Maya society were able to wear ear flares 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; ear flares may also have been thought of as an extension of the ear. Size of largest (they are very similar in size): 0.9" W x 1" H (2.3 cm x 2.5 cm)

Provenance: ex private Schmied collection via family descent

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#129873

Very light signs of wear from age, with clear signs of having been drilled using ancient tools. Both are intact and in excellent condition.