Large Shell Earrings

A shell, modeled in silver, forms each of these earrings: the marine subject is one Spratling returned to often, here rendered as a compact piece of naturalistic sculpture worn at the ear. The form is left to speak on its own, without stone or applied ornament.

Shell and other sea forms recur throughout the workshop's jewelry, part of the repertoire of natural Mexican subjects translated into hand-raised silver. On a piece this spare, the quality of the modeling carries the design.

Simple silver shell earrings are among the more wearable of the workshop's nature motifs and are collected as such.