Quiquiztli, Maya musical conch pendant in sterling silver

The Quiquiztli pendant is inspired by a carved marine conch from the Classic Maya period, adorned with the portrait of a ruler. More than a piece of jewelry, it pays tribute to a sacred musical instrument deeply rooted in the religious and political traditions of Mesoamerican civilizations. Used as a ritual trumpet, the conch summoned priests and worshippers, invoked the gods, and called down rain during ceremonies of offering and fertility.

Because it comes from the sea, the conch is traditionally associated with deities of water and rain—such as Chac among the Maya or Tlaloc among the Aztecs. The breath that animates the conch was seen as a link between the earthly and the divine, capable of crossing the cosmic planes to reach supernatural powers.

Yet its use was not limited to the sacred: the conch was also a warrior’s instrument. It resounded to announce battles, celebrate victories, or accompany military processions. In Mesoamerican mythology, the conch appears in several narratives, notably when Quetzalcoatl defeats Mictlantecuhtli, the god of death, to retrieve the bones needed for the creation of the Fifth Sun. In this context, the conch becomes a symbol of rebirth, cosmic power, and triumph over death.

Both ceremonial and martial, the conch is tied to divine figures as contrasting as Tlaloc, god of rain, and Huitzilopochtli, solar god of war and patron of the Aztecs. It embodies the union of life-giving and destructive forces—of water and fire, of sacred breath and war cry.

We named this silver pendant Quiquiztli, the Nahuatl word the Aztecs used for the conch shell played as a musical instrument. The central figure, inspired by the original iconography, was engraved into the silver before being cut out to form a free, organic shape—like a shadow emerging from the past. This piece evokes ancient sound rituals, the magic of breath, and the symbolic power of the voice carried by the sea.

Metal: plata de ley (925).

Dimensions: 3.15 × 1.02 in (8 × 2.6 cm).

Finish: polished shine.

El tiempo de entrega de tu paquete será de 3 a 6 semanas, ya que tu pedido se envía desde México, donde residimos actualmente. Te agradecemos que tomes en cuenta esta información antes de realizar tu compra. Al efectuar el pago, también tendrás la opción de elegir un envío exprés por medio de un transportista privado. (Lee las condiciones completas de envío aquí.)

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Espero que esta joya te guste tanto como a mí me gustó crearla.

Por Emmanuelle Guyon.

Tags : Maya, Mexico, bas-relief, conch, shell, pre-Hispanic, pre-Columbian, instrument, music, Quetzalcoatl, Mictlantecuhtli, feathered serpent, Tlaloc, Huitzilopochtli, Chac, trumpet, mythology, belief, Aztec, rain, fertility, Mexican, war, musical, ritual, sacred, Mesoamerican, marine, warrior, Mesoamerica, legend, Fifth Sun

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