These forest green ancient glass shards are paired with antique coin silver charms from Afghanistan.

Ancient glass shards and components are excavated in Afghanistan, along the Silk Road, a network of trade routes that connected cultures and merchants and spanned from the 2^nd century BCE to the 18^th century.  The glass originated in the regions of the Roman Empire, where glassware became popularized with the invention of glass blowing, around 50 BCE.  Glassware was brought into the homes of most Romans and used on a daily basis. It was also traded along the Silk Road.  These fragments of glass are repurposed from broken vessels that were buried for hundreds of years along the Silk Trade Road and today are made into beads.  Because it is excavated in Afghanistan, I am choosing to call it “ancient glass” instead of “ancient Roman glass.”

Coin silver is made from a mixture of metals with a high pure silver content, often repurposing coins by melting them down.  The coin silver components I work with are antiques from all of the world, ranging from 80-120 years old, found in India, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, and many West African countries such as Nigeria and Mali.  The wear and patina of antique coin silver has informed much of my jewelry aesthetic over the years.  The pieces are very special and rare.

Earrings measure 2 ¼” from top of earwire.  All findings used are oxidized sterling silver.