The Met Store Earrings*Ancient Fretwork Earrings

Stunning jewelry is the ideal gift for her.

Our striking openwork earrings bear a bold stepped-fret pattern adapted from a Peruvian nose ornament (1st century B.C.–2nd century A.D.) in The Met collection. For the peoples of this ancient region, gold was endowed with spiritual and symbolic meaning; it was associated with worldly power, status, and wealth. This rare adornment displays the technical mastery achieved by a gifted Peruvian goldsmith working more than 2,000 years ago.