Italian women have always loved lavish display. Even for the poorest, a rich show of jewellery was all important. Italian goldsmiths were expert at making a little material go a very long way. Many pieces seem too large to wear comfortably, but they are usually made of very thin gold, and are much lighter than they appear.

This earring comes from the south of Italy, and is entirely covered with seed pearls, which were abundant in the warm waters of the Mediterranean before the industrial age. They are each pierced and attached to the gold frame by silver wires which are bunched and tied in knots at the back. It was common for the pendant to hang loosely from the earring itself, as here. This allowed the owner to add it or take it off easily, depending on her requirements.

The earring is marked on both parts with the gold marks of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies from the early 19th century. It was bought as part of the Castellani collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the International Exhibition, Paris, 1867.