Pambadam Earrings 19th-20th century

These Pambadam Earrings, of unknown date, were created by an anonymous artist. These golden earrings invite us to consider adornment as an expression of cultural identity, and perhaps even resistance. The earrings were designed to stretch the earlobes of women as a sign of beauty, wealth and status in the Suri tribes of Ethiopia and South Sudan. The creation of these striking, geometric forms from gold could symbolize more than simple wealth. It could be an assertion of identity for women in these communities. The preciousness of the material and the exaggeration of form speak to the powerful role of beauty as a cultural signifier. The weight of the jewelry is carried by the wearer, shaping not just the body but also the cultural narrative it embodies.