Documented as one of the earliest forms of bodily adornment, ear piercing dates as far back as the Bronze Age and Ancient Persia. Earrings have symbolized everything from religious belief to cultural status to the size of a Pirate’s booty ~ and we’re not talking his derriere! Men and women alike have worn earrings for millennia.
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| Tyrone Power & Maureen O'Hare in The Black Swan |
In Ancient Egypt earrings were predominantly gold, thought to be the skin of the sun god Ra, or silver, thought to be from Isis, goddess of the moon. Eventually Egyptian artisans crafted them with semi precious stones like lapis and turquoise.
Ornate styles introduced during the Roman Empire saw the addition of diamonds and other precious gem stones.
The ups and downs of fashion through the ages dictated the size and shape of earrings worn, if any were worn at all. Large almost garish hairstyles and huge hats from the middle ages often covered the ears making earrings all but obsolete. Bless the stylish men and women from 17th century Italy and their more subdued hairstyles and necklines.
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| Maria de Medici by Allori Alessandro |
The early 1900’s brought about clip on earrings, thought to be more sanitary.
Earrings are now simply a form of self expression, a way to accessorize and enhance the look of what we wear. From top designers to retail chains, there are styles, shapes, and colours to suit everyone.
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