Ear Spool

Unknown

late 15th–early 16th century · Gold, silver · Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Ear ornaments were worn by prominent personages of both sexes in many cultures in ancient Peru. Among the Inka, only noblemen wore such ornaments; their substantially distended earlobes led the Spanish to call them orejones (big ears). Since the Spanish melted down all the gold and silver jewelry that came into their hands, little Inka precious metalwork survives. These rare ornaments are spool-shaped and have curved-in sides for better placement in the earlobes; they have gold outlays.

Artist

Unknown

Date

late 15th–early 16th century

Medium

Gold, silver

Culture

Inca (?)

Department

Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas

Credit line

The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979