Earrings of Ebony and Gilded Silver

Earrings of ebony and gilded silver, these pair the warm tone of gold-washed silver with dark wood, a combination that turns on material contrast rather than stones. The gilding gives the silver a golden surface against the black ebony.

The ebony-and-metal pairing is characteristic of Spratling's taste for setting silver against dark contrasting materials for richness and texture (Morrill, Mexican Silver, 1994, p. 73). Gilding the silver adds a further layer of warmth to that contrast.

A construction detail sets this pair apart: the screwback fitting is of a type not previously documented on Spratling earrings, yet the hallmarks are stamped on it, indicating it is original rather than a later replacement. That kind of physical evidence, hallmark placement on an unusual fitting, is exactly what authentication of Spratling jewelry rests on.

Gilded silver and wood earrings are an uncommon combination within his output, and the documented original screwback makes this a noteworthy example for collectors attentive to construction.