Manabí or Quimbaya Terracotta Spindle Whorls tangdynasty Loose threads and tears

Loose threads and tears

while the broad shoulders and long bent arms frame the forward-projecting abdomen with a prominent navel—an emblem of vitality and continuity

Each head shows Harpocrates with the traditional shaven scalp and distinctive side-lock of youth

hemispherical form

though softened by age

Manabí or Quimbaya Terracotta Spindle Whorls tangdynasty Loose threads and tearsPre Columbian era, Manab Culture, Ecuador & Quimbaya Culture, Colombia, c. 10501500 AD An exceptional and highly attractive group of four Pre Columbian earthenware spindle whorls, each meticulously decorated with finely incised linear and circular motifs of remarkable precision. Carefully shaped and hand polished, these refined objects are compelling survivals from the sophisticated textile traditions of ancient South American civilizations. Spindle