Earrings
Unknown Artist
16th century–19th century
Medium
gold
Classification
Earrings
Culture
probably Spanish
Department
Costume Institute
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
X.104.1
Art Historical Context
These exquisite gold earrings, dating from the 16th to 19th centuries, offer a glimpse into the elegant world of Spanish adornment. Crafted by an unknown artist, they hail from a culture renowned for its opulent jewelry traditions, likely reflecting the influence of Spain's Golden Age through its colonial wealth and Renaissance artistry. Displayed in the Metropolitan Museum Art's Costume Institute, pieces highlight how personal ornaments served as symbols of status, faith, and fashion across centuries of political and artistic upheaval. Gold, the earrings' sole medium, was prized for its mall...