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Ear Spools

A work made of spondylus shell and greenstone.
CC0 Public Domain Designation

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  • A work made of spondylus shell and greenstone.

Date:

200 BCE–200 CE

Artist:

Colima or Jalisco
Colima or Jalisco, Mexico

About this artwork

Figures and jewelry made of spondylus (spiny oyster) shell developed as a specialization in what are today the Mexican states of Colima and Jalisco. Like greenstone, jade, and colorful feathers, this bright orange shell was a luxury item sought by maritime merchants from Ecuador and Central America, who found it in warm Pacific waters as far north as the West Mexican coast. As emblems of authority and status, exotic materials were displayed by rulers during ceremonial events. Spondylus-shell jewelry carved with symbolic designs found in West Mexican tombs indicates the high esteem in which this valued material was held.

Status

On View, Gallery 136

Department

Arts of the Americas

Culture

Colima

Title

Ear Spools

Place

Western Mexico (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

200 BCE–200 CE

Medium

Spondylus shell and greenstone

Dimensions

3.2 × 7.6 cm (1 1/4 × 3 in.) (each)

Credit Line

Maurice D. Galleher Endowment

Reference Number

2001.152.4-5

IIIF Manifest  The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world.

Learn more.

https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/191961/manifest.json

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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