Ear Spools c. 200

Curator: Here we have a pair of ear spools from Colima, dating back to around 200 AD. They are made from ceramic. Editor: My first impression is that they are incredibly delicate and weathered. The pale surfaces suggest age, but also a certain purity. The repeated petal-like shapes that trim their outer rims add a strange harmony to the otherwise unadorned, disc-like form. Curator: It's fascinating to consider their role in Colima society. These weren't just decorative items, were symbols of status, rank and ritual participation. Imagine how they would have transformed an individual's appearance, elongating the earlobes and projecting a different identity. Editor: Indeed. There's a pleasing tension between the relatively flat surface and the repeating shapes along the outer edges. I keep thinking about the tension and precision involved in shaping the clay and achieving such symmetry using just basic ceramic technology. The overall structure speaks to a specific visual language from the culture that produced them. Curator: Absolutely. The Art Institute context is important. These objects, now presented in a museum setting, once served very different functions within a complex social structure. Today, they invite a different kind of contemplation of beauty and craft and its social context. It’s a journey of sorts, a transition from body adornment with societal weight to aesthetic artefact within a gallery. Editor: Yes, a shift from intimate object, worn on the body, to cultural artefact for all to see, a symbol of power. Curator: Precisely. Reflecting on these spools makes us consider the politics inherent to display and how meanings can evolve as cultural contexts change. Editor: I will agree to that! For me, they underscore the enduring power of simple forms, precise construction, and careful details that carry social and aesthetic import across great spans of time.