Ear Spools c. 200

These ear spools were fashioned from clay and shell by the Colima people of West Mexico. Ear ornaments such as these were signifiers of social rank in Colima society, with the size and material indicating status and power. We know, from archeological evidence and burial sites, that the Colima had a hierarchical society. Objects buried in the tombs denote social standing, where the elite would wear elaborate regalia made of precious materials. It is also evidenced that the Colima were sophisticated artisans and traders. They were skilled ceramicists, adept at firing pottery and working with various materials like shell. Historians look at such things as trade routes, burial sites, and the iconography found in other forms of Colima art, such as ceramic figures, to better understand these objects. Contextualizing an artwork like this within the culture from which it came is essential to understanding its significance.