Earrings: Past and Present…….

In recorded history, earrings have been traced back to the ancient city of Perspolis, Persia, (the ancient name for Iran) where the illustrations on the walls depict soldiers wearing earrings, with the oldest earrings ever discovered dating back to  2500 BC. During the Dark Ages, due to people’s impoverishment,  the use of jewelry, inclusive of earrings, declined considerably..  The situation  changed during the Roman Empire, at which time  jewelry was  worn  as a sign of status and luxury. The popularity of earrings  depended also on the fashions prevailing  at the time.

During the Middle Ages,  with more  attention  directed towards elaborate hairstyles and skillfully handmade  dresses, earrings were not given priority as ornamental objects..

During the 1850s, earrings lost popularity once again. Hair was tied behind the head, covering the ears, or bonnets and hats were worn. In addition, the religious and social sentiments of the time.  The 1920s brought  the advent of the clip-on earring, rendering  ear piercing less and less indispensable..

 The above passage on the history of  earrings  indicates that the style of jewelry at any given time an d in  any given culture cannot be studied nor understood without first understanding the prevailing fashion trends.  Earrings should complement what a nice hairstyle or a nice outfit presents. They should also be selected with close attention  to the wearer’s  physical features. Jewelry can  represent a woman’s class and personality in  the same way as her outfit or manner of speaking would do.   .

Stud earrings may go unnoticed, worn with very short hair, whereas pendant and/or chandelier earrings would enhance the aesthetic beauty  and feminine appeal.  Just as important is the suitability of earrings for the intended  occasion.