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 particular earrings incorporate filigree, domed half spheres of filigree and dangling elements.

Dangling earrings of gold alloy or wash. Bent wires soldered to filigree flowers are loosely attached to two inverted filigree teardrops, and applied to convex filigree half spheres with several hammered flat pieces (nine on each earrings) of metal that dangle from the bottom of the earrings. True openwork filigree of twisted wires.

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

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