Ear Spool
Unknown Artist
15th–early 16th century
Medium
Obsidian
Dimensions
Height 1-5/8 in.
Classification
Glass-Ornaments
Culture
Aztec
Department
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Arthur M. Bullowa, 1993
Accession Number
1994.35.550
Art Historical Context
This exquisite obsidian ear spool, crafted by an unknown Aztec artist in the 15th to early 16th century hails from the height of the Aztec Empire inamerica. Measuring just 1-5/8 inches in height, this small yet striking ornament was likely worn by elites, inserted into pierced earlobes to signify status and prestige. The Aztecs, centered in the bustling city of Tenochtitlan (-day Mexico City), prized such jewelry as symbols of power and divine favor, often adorning priests, warriors, or nobles during rituals and daily life. Carved from obsidian—a naturally occurring volcanic glass renowned fo...