Copper and Silver Bar Modernist Earrings

These handcrafted earrings start with pure copper. Sterling silver is melted onto the bottom part of copper bar and round setting is soldered onto it.

Size of the spiny oyster cabochon is 4mm. The metal is not coated with any type of clear coat and will normally tarnish. If you would like the metals coated please send a message (curing requires an extra 3 days before the jewelry can be shipped).

Copper can be easily brightened with lemon juice and/or baking soda.

Handmade in USA.

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SPINY OYSTER SHELL

The spiny oyster, otherwise known as spondylus, is a large family of mollusks. They are sometimes also known as thorny oysters or spondylids. A bivalve mollusk, the animal is encased in a hinged shell composed of two parts. Large quills grow from their shells, providing this creature its famous moniker. Despite its name, these creatures are not true oysters and are more closely related to scallops. Of all the many varieties that are found in the seas of the world, two significant variations are found off the Pacific coast. Both are harvested for their shells for use in jewelry and lapidary purposes.

The flesh of spiny oysters is edible, and the mollusks are harvested for both shell and meat. In the ancient cultures that inhabited the American Southwest, Central America, and South America, the spiny oyster served many important purposes. Besides a source of nourishment, most of these cultures attributed a religious or ceremonial value to spondylus. Some cultures also used them as currency.