The Metropolitan Museum of Art Meiji Butterfly Drop Earrings | Earrings

Art Jewelry Inspired By The Met Collection.

Butterflies Are Beloved Subjects In Japanese Art, Not Only For Their Poetic Beauty But For Their Association With Longevity And Springtime. These Shimmering Earrings Are Inspired By The Mother-Of-Pearl Butterflies Decorating A Marvelous Japanese Box (Second Half Of The 19Th Century) In The Met’S Holdings. Likely Reserved For Ceremonial Tea Utensils, The Museum’S Meiji-Period Treasure—Bequeathed By The Visionary Collector, Silversmith, And Tiffany & Co. Designer Edward C. Moore (American, 1827–1891)—Boasts Magnificent Craftwork And Serves As The Most Significant Example Of A Japanese Lacquer Technique Known As Maki-E (Meaning “Sprinkled Picture”) In Moore’S Expansive Collection.

We Present This Item In Celebration Of Collecting Inspiration: Edward C. Moore At Tiffany & Co. This Exhibition, On View At The Met Fifth Avenue From June 9 To October 20, 2024, Showcases The Profound Design Influence Of Edward C. Moore, A Prodigious Collector Of Decorative Arts, A Noted Silversmith, And The Creative Force Who Led Tiffany & Co. To Unparalleled Heights Of Originality And Success During The Second Half Of The 19Th Century. Through Over 180 Extraordinary Creations Bequeathed To The Museum From Moore’S Collection, Alongside 70 Magnificent Silver Objects Designed At Tiffany & Co. Under His Direction, Collecting Inspiration Considers Moore’S Pivotal Role In Shaping The Legendary Tiffany Design Aesthetic—And The Evolution Of The Met Collection.

Click Here To Learn More About The Met Object That Inspired This Design.