Antique Blackamoor Hoop Earrings Gold Filled

These earrings are a poignant and significant piece of history, an early example of Blackamoor jewelry. Historically, such pieces idealized the slave industry, symbolizing the power dynamics and the complex legacy of that era. Threaded from back to front, each hoop features a different, stylized face. 

These earrings are a reminder of how beauty and brutality often coexisted in material culture—objects that both captivate, confront, and serve as a powerful reminder of the past.

Material: Gold filled
Measurements: 0.75" drop (back-to-front hoops)
Weight: 2.5 grams
Markings: “NG GF”
Period: Circa 1880s

The origins of Blackamoor jewelry can be traced back to 16th-century Venice, Italy. They were popularized during the Baroque and Rococo periods. The initial designs were often associated with victory over the Ottoman Empire and reflected the exoticism and fascination with other cultures. However, the depiction of Black people was often idealized and stereotyped.