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Each of these earrings is a single disc of tortoise shell, backed only by a triangular wire so that light passes behind the shell and brings out its mottled color.
The choice to leave the back open is a designer's decision in favor of the material itself. Tortoiseshell was a material Spratling valued for its textural and color contrast with silver (Morrill, p. 73), and here the minimal wire backing, with the earring screw attached to it, exists only to let the shell be seen.
Earrings of this restraint, where the setting all but disappears in service of the material, come to market only occasionally.
Museum of Mexican Silver. “Earrings of a Tortoise Shell Disc.” Catalog no. MoMS-000852. https://museumofmexicansilver.com/pieces/spratling-2430
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Radiating Line Earrings
Silver
