Manabí or Quimbaya Terracotta Spindle Whorls tangdynasty in large terracotta storage jars

in large terracotta storage jars in a contracted position

rendered in a natural beige hue

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

hemispherical form

Manabí or Quimbaya Terracotta Spindle Whorls tangdynasty in large terracotta storage jarsPre 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