Skip to content

Earflare Set

Creator Name

Unknown

Cultural Context

Mesoamerican

Date

Creation: 3rd century, 4th century, 5th century, 6th century, 7th century, 8th century, 9th century, Mesoamerican Classic period

Source

Metropolitan Museum of Art

About the Work

Curationist Object Description

In Maya cosmology, the Ceiba tree is the tree of life, connecting the earthly plane to the heavens and the underworld. The Ceiba is the axis from which the four cardinal directions radiate. Mayans represented this cosmic vision in their art and ornamentation. These ear flares, or "nacochtlis," are impressed with a cruciform pattern. The holes in the centers would have been filled with sticks or beads to hold them in place.

Ancient Maya people believed bodily orifices were portals to the spiritual realms. Their glyph for death depicts a snake passing through an ear flare. Therefore, decorating these areas with sacred materials like jade facilitated their connection with the spiritual world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description

Earflare set

Work details

"--" = no data available

= Curationist added metadata

Title

Earflare Set

Creator

Worktype

Jewelry; Earring; Plug (earring)

Stone-Ornaments

Cultural Context

Mesoamerican

Maya

Material

Overall: Stone

Jade

Dimensions

H. 1 1/4 x W. 1 1/8 in. (3.2 x 2.8 cm);
width: 2.84centimetre;
height: 3.175centimetre

Technique

Sculpting; Carving

Language

--

Date

Creation: 3rd century, 4th century, 5th century, 6th century, 7th century, 8th century, 9th century, Mesoamerican Classic period

3rd–9th century

Provenance

Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993

Style Period

--

Rights

Public Domain

Public Domain

Inscription

--

Location

Creation: Northern America, North America

Mesoamerica, Mexico

Source

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Subjects

Descriptive Topic: Body modification, Cruciform

Topic

--

Curationist Contributors

Amanda Acosta; Emily Benoff

Related Content

Part of: Maya Deities and Nobles in Sacred Jade

All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:

Unknown, Earflare Set, 3rd–9th century. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Jade ear spools were used to decorate portals to spiritual realms. Public Domain.

Help us improve this content!

Let our archivists know if you have something to add.

Send us your feedback

Save this work.

Start an account to add this work to your personal curated collection.

Sign Up For Free

masonry card