Cylinder Seal Earrings

Cylinder seals were originally impression stamps, used by everyone from royalty to slaves to authorize transactions, control the movement and storage of goods, as protective amulets or charms and as signs of personal identity or professional affiliation. A seal was a prized possession, and its loss was taken as seriously as losing a credit card or identity theft is taken today. They were worn by their owners, around the neck on a cord or pinned to an item of clothing and were typically between 7-10 cm (3-4 in) long.

Although inspired by ancient cylinder seals from Mesopotamia, the carvings on these modern-day seals were taken from the decorated margins around on the pages of medieval illuminated manuscripts (called marginalia) held at the Getty Museum. If you look closely, you will discover tin strawberry plants with flowers, a caterpillar, a butterfly and a bird.  Bright spring green tourmalines sit atop the seals, and a post and clip back makes for supremely comfortable wearing.

One-of-a-kind.