PRE COLUMBIAN MAYAN JADEITE EAR SPOOLS 100% AUTHENTIC Wonderful Set of Mayan Real Jadeite Ear Spools Estate Start Price USD 1,800.00 Current Price USD 1,800.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, November 22, 2008 End Time Monday, December 22, 2008 Location Tucson, AZ. See more about 'PRE COLUMBIAN MAYAN JADEITE EAR SPOOLS 100% AUTHENTIC' Description Pre-Columbian Mayan Ear Spools of Guatemalan Jadeite  One of the most interesting and pronounced forms of body adornment throughout history has been that of piercing the ears in order to insert ear spools or flares.  Ear spools are thought to have been symbols of spirituality, and considered important enough to be buried with their owners.  Although it is believed that many adult males wore ear spools in Pre-Columbian times, the number that have survived is small, and thus are rare archaeological finds.   Jadeite, and green stone, were precious materials in the eyes of the Pre-Columbian Maya.  Even though ear spools were made from a wide variety of materials, including gold, Jadeite Ear Spools were the most precious.  This pair of ear spools is rare, pure, 100% Guatemalan Jadeite; 100% Authentic Mayan.  At approximately 2000 years old, these items came to us from a very old and established Living Estate Collection, through trade, and are legal to sell in the US.  When I first examined them, they had a bit too-red of an iron oxide pigment inside the spools.  Both items tested to pure Jadeite, so I gave them a bath, and found one of them to have a very old repair where two small pieces had come loose from the back of the spool.  As acetone did not remove the tiny chips and neither did water, I examined under the microscope, the old repair that was done many years ago.  The original iron oxide pigment remains; the oxide that was added later is now gone. Now both spools are in-situ condition, and all true degradation to the inside can be seen and verified.  Also, please compare these spools to the real ones in Fred Ward's book on Jade and see the difference in symmetry.   Fred is a very close personal friend of mine and wrote the entire National Geographic Gem Series.  These spools are the finest I have ever seen, in person, or in a book.  These were Masterfully made.  Each spool flares to 1-3/4" in diameter and is 1-1/4" long.  The part of the spool that is inserted into the pierced ear lobe is 7/8" in diameter.  Note: I Curate and Authenticate eight Major collections of Chinese and pre Columbian Jade and Jadeite and Stone carved artifacts, and in the last year have culled out of these collections over 20 pieces that had previously been verified as 'real' by the top authenticators in Santa Fe, and by such experts as the head of the Anthropology department in a major Arizona University.  Some of these items came with 6-page reports of tests that could never have been actually performed, as they were acid-etched glass objects. Please Note: At the end of this listing these spools will move to antiquitiesplus.com In addition to my own inspection, these ear spools have also been authenticated by Dr. Timothy Jones, PhD, Anthropologist, formerly with the University of Arizona.  Dr. Jones has accepted invitations to the world's largest museum in Beijing, and has received privately guided tours of the Beijing Museum, which included some of the most treasured vault items hidden away from the general public.  Dr. Jones has directed the excavations and analyses of more than 20 major sites and 40 archaeological surveys.  Dr. Jones now runs his own appraisal and authentication business, and is certified RPA-IAA.  Dr. Jones can be reached at 520-744-2766.  He helps in the verifications of all our later porcelains, as I do for him on the older items of Jades and pottery.  He has no vested interest in our business, and we just truly enjoy each others company and knowledge.   Scheduled: Third Annual, Jade Art Now Show Feb. 2009 (see jadeartnow.com for details) You may view these items or any of our other antiquities, fine art or artifacts at our gallery, by appointment only. We are Antiquities, Plus... David Fredericks 2752 North Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone 520-991-2153antiquitiesplus.com Refunds will be made only upon receipt by us (within 14 days of buyer's receipt of the item), of a written verification from a major University Department Head, or Major Museum Curator from a recognized institution in the appropriate field.              NOTE: For international sales, buyer is responsible for all import duty taxes. Also, please do not ask us to mark your purchase as a gift on the customs form.We do not sell off Ebay; please do not ask. Place a Bid!