Art Institute of Chicago

Earring

Egyptian

Date

New Kingdom, mid- to late Dynasty 18, about 1400–1295 BCE

Medium

Glass

Culture

Egypt

Department

Arts of Africa

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

This glass earring is half of a pair (with 1894.24 ) that an Ancient Egyptian craftsman made by first softening blue glass with heat and bending it around a rod. They then fused a twisted cane of white-and-black glass to the main body of the earring. A wire strung through the top would have allowed the wearer to hang this earring from their pierced ear, although on this object one of the suspension loops has broken off. This particular style was popular during the New Kingdom (about 1550–1069 BCE), when Egyptian men, women, and children of all social classes wore earrings made from glass, precious metals, or stone.

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