Three tiers of tactile contrast come together in these Kenyan-made statement earrings: a hammered brass disc, a bone crescent wrapped in coiled brass wire, and a smooth wood circle anchoring the drop. The piece celebrates the long tradition of mixed-material adornment from Kenyan artisan workshops.
- Material: Bone / Horn crescent with natural wood disc
- Size: 3.75" long (plus hook) x 1.8125" wide
- Details: Hammered brass top disc, cream bone crescent with hand-coiled brass wirework spiral, warm wood circle drop
- Origin / Craft: Hand-assembled in Kenya using traditional brass-coiling and bone-shaping techniques
The three-tier silhouette plays geometric shapes against organic materials — a polished brass disc, a softly carved crescent in cream, and a grain-rich wood round. Each earring is finished by hand, so the hammered texture and wire spirals carry small variations unique to its maker.
Care: Wipe gently with a dry cloth and store away from moisture to protect the bone and wood.
design: A three-tier statement drop that plays geometric against organic: a hammered brass disc up top, a cream bone crescent wrapped in a hand-coiled brass wire spiral, and a grain-rich wood circle anchoring the bottom.
size: 3.75" long (plus ear hook) x 1.8125" wide
material: Hammered brass, bone crescent, hand-coiled brass wire, natural wood
features: Three-tier drop silhouette, hand-hammered brass texture, hand-coiled wire spiral detail, natural bone and wood grain variation, brass fish-hook ear wire
care: Wipe gently with a dry cloth and store away from moisture to protect the bone and wood.
disclaimer: Because the bone crescent and wood circle are natural materials shaped and finished by hand, grain, color, and texture vary slightly from piece to piece.
The Story
Mixed-material adornment — pairing metal with bone, horn, and wood — has long been part of everyday jewelry-making in Kenyan artisan workshops, where brass is prized for its warmth and workability and locally available bone and wood provide contrast in both color and texture. The geometric disc-and-crescent format seen here reflects a broader East African design language built around simple, repeatable shapes: circles, half-moons, and spirals combined into layered forms.
The coiled wire spiral on the bone crescent is a signature brass-wire technique used across Kenyan metalworking, where wire is wound by hand into tight, even spirals to decorate or reinforce a piece rather than added as an afterthought. It's a detail that shows up on jewelry, bracelets, and small ornaments alike, valued for the way it catches light against a matte or bone surface.
On this piece, the technique is put to work in a modern three-tier earring silhouette — a contemporary styling choice built on established methods of hammering, coiling, and shaping that Kenyan artisans have refined over generations of workshop practice.
Each earring starts as three separate elements brought together by hand. A brass disc is hammered to raise its dimpled texture, a length of brass wire is wound into a tight spiral and set onto a shaped bone crescent, and a wood round is cut and smoothed to a matching circle. An artisan then assembles and links the three tiers into the finished drop, checking that the hammering, coiling, and hardware all sit true before the piece is finished — a process that means the exact texture and spiral of any one pair belongs only to that pair.
Craft & Materials
- Made In: Kenya
- Craft Tradition: Hand-forged brass and hand-coiled brass wirework
- Ideal For: Someone who wants a bold, textural statement earring with a handmade story behind it
- Wear It With: Let it anchor a simple outfit — pair with a solid-color top and pulled-back hair so the three tiers can move and catch the light
- Purpose: Everyday statement wear, dressing up a simple outfit, gifting
- Metal: Brass
Questions & Answers
What are these earrings made of?
Each earring combines a hand-hammered brass disc, a bone crescent wrapped in hand-coiled brass wire, and a natural wood circle, finished with a brass fish-hook ear wire.
How long do the earrings hang?
They measure 3.75 inches long, including the ear hook, and 1.8125 inches wide.
Will the color and grain match the photo exactly?
Not exactly — the bone and wood are natural materials, so grain, tone, and texture vary slightly from pair to pair, and the brass hammering and wire coils carry small handmade variations.
Are these heavy to wear?
The three-tier design has visual weight, but brass, bone, and wood are all lightweight materials, so they're made for all-day wear despite the bold look.
How should I care for them?
Wipe gently with a dry cloth after wear and store them away from moisture to protect the bone and wood elements.
