Pre-Columbian, north coast of Peru, Sican/Lambayeque culture, ca. 750 to 1350 CE. Wow! A stunning matched pair of enormous ear spools, shockingly light due to their delicate construction. Each is a hollow gilded silver cylinder with one flat face left open, with a narrow, outwardly flaring rim around the opening. Inset into the open face is a disc-shaped openwork silver decoration depicting a standing lord with a tumi-like headdress. This is most likely Naymlap, the traditional founder of the Lambayeque dynasty, who came from the south by sea and colonized the region before, it was said, sprouting wings and flying off into the sunset in a dramatic display of his magical powers. He was worshipped by his descendants, and silver and gold vessels, weapons, and jewelry are all adorned with his likeness. These items have been found within the massive pyramid mounds at the center of Lambayeque's great cities, alongside mummy bundles and human sacrifices. Size of one (they are roughly the same size): 2" W (5.1 cm); 5.75" H (14.6 cm) on included custom stand. 36.6 grams total.

These gorgeous items look remarkably similar to two pairs of earrings buried with the Priestess of Chornancap (viewable using the link below), one gold,a nd one silver. This young Lambayeque woman was buried with gold, silver, and copper ornaments of incredible complexity and workmanship. Eight women, aged fifteen to twenty, were buried alongside her - handmaids? Sacrifice victims? Both? Either way, she seems to have been a figure of intense importance within Lambayeque society, and she entered the grave appropriately ornamented in metal jewelry of a similar quality and style as these.

View the Priestess of Chornancap's ear spools in "Golden Kingdoms: Luxury Arts in the Ancient Americas" by Pillsbury, Potts, and Richter, page 166: https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=l4c0DwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=moche+labret&ots=mx1ShTzsNl&sig=QbeMFviZUHIu-JLYYV479-LeQPU#v=onepage&q=earspool%20lambayeque&f=false

Provenance: private Hawaii, USA collection; ex Eugene Lions collection, Geneva, Switzerland

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#131894

Patina on surface. Excellent preservation of motifs and form - almost no bending! Collection stickers on back.