Earrings

Earrings, particularly twisted gold hoops ubiquitous throughout western Africa since the first millenium AD, are an essential component of any Senegalese jewelry ensemble. Often paired with a matching pendant or necklace, the more ornate patterns reflect their European inspirations, incorporating delicate filigree work and crested with flowers and circlets of twisted wire design. These designs often bore French names, or French derivatives. Dangling versions, sometimes modeled after common necklace designs, are also popular and are known as "long-longs." Others are small hoops composed of coiled or twisted wire meant to be attached permanently to the ear and worn in multiples.

These beautiful and genteel earrings are a design originating in Mali, but extremely popular amongst Mauritanian women.

Gilt silver (gold wash) earrings of curved rectangles decorated in twisted wire and granulation, with five granules nested in twisted wire suspended from the bottom. The clasp is of thick wire looped at the end, covered with coiled wire (possibly copper). One red bead and one clear, purple bead decorates each earring. B has probably been repaired, as the majority of its thick wire exists on the outside of the earring, and it is larger than A.

Marian Johnson, purchased in Dakar, Senegal, 1963-late 20th century to 2012

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