Earflares symbolized flowers (Stuart 1992).

Stuart, David. 2002. "The Iconography of Flowers in Maya Art." Paper presented at the 8th Texas Symposium on Maya Hieroglyphic Writing, University of Texas at Austin.

Earflare Depicting Principal Bird Deity
Rio Azul, Guatemala
Jadeite
7.5 x 2 cm
Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, Guatemala City.



The kneeling figure seen here appears to offer an icon of royal power, the Jaguar God of the Underworld, to the person wearing the earflare. Other precious objects surround the figure, including shells and ear spools. The figure's belt head and pendant plaques attest to his own elite status.

Earflare Inlay
Central Lowlands, Maya Area
Shell and cinnabar
7.5 x 29.5 x 10.2 x 2.5
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Bequest of Leroy C. Cleal.



Copyright 2005 Los Angeles County Museum of Art