Earrings Jewelry

Two bronze coins, minted in Judea before the common era, now hanging from silver hooks. Antique and contemporary earrings here come from India, Mali, Borneo, Armenia and the ancient Middle East, in gold, silver, bronze, pearl and stone. Widow’s mite coins from 1st century BCE Judea, the small bronze coins of the Gospel story, are set in sterling as drops, and Armenian coins from around 1300 get the same treatment. Fulani gold earrings from Mali, twisted into broad leaf forms, are among the boldest gold jewelry of West Africa.

Dayak earweights from Borneo, made to stretch the lobe over years, sit beside Maya earrings dated to around 600 and Rajasthani plaque amulet earrings depicting Shiva. Contemporary Indian pairs come in pearl, onyx, rose quartz and marcasite, along with 21 karat gold hearts from Jaipur. Wear the coins with a plain sweater and let them start the conversation. Some earrings have simply been in circulation longer than others.