Ear Spool Possibly 250 - 900

This ear spool, crafted by the Maya civilization, embodies symbols of status and identity. The circular form is not merely decorative, but a cosmic echo, reminiscent of the sun and celestial bodies revered in Mayan cosmology. Jade, from which the spool is made, was a sacred material associated with life, fertility, and power. Adorning the ears with such spools was reserved for the elite, transforming the body into a living canvas of social hierarchy. Consider the symbolic weight of the ear itself: a portal for hearing, knowledge, and communication. Across cultures, from ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, elaborate earrings signified wealth and status. This resonates with Freud's concepts of bodily symbolism and cultural memory, where certain body parts become charged with layers of meaning, speaking to collective desires for recognition and transcendence. The ear spool, therefore, acts as a potent signifier, connecting the wearer to a lineage of power that transcends time.