Dazzling body ornaments like these ear spools convey the authority of the wearer, probably a man of the upper ranks of Chimú society. The central figure on the ear spools themselves may represent such a man. He holds a kero (beaker), a symbol of power and identity used in many Andean religious and state ceremonies and burials. Mythical elements include the monkeys transporting him, serpent heads at the end of the litter, and two-headed felines engraved on the posts.
The central figure's crescent-shaped headdress, symbolizing the sun to Amazonian cultures, represents a crown of feathers traded from the Amazon region. Similar presentation scenes of rulers or deities appear in northern Andean (Colombian) gold work and in metalwork by people of the Lambayeque Valley, who shared the metallurgical skills with Chimú conquerors. In both imagery and material, these ear spools exemplify the spread of ideas and technology in South America.
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