Lava Mano e Cornicelli Earrings c1840

Lava Mano e Cornicelli Earrings c1840

Wrought with symbolism, myth, and a superstition, these Victorian lava earrings are primarily a ward against the evil eye and a set of amulets for fertility, virility, and general good fortune. Most likely made in southern Italy, the coral dangles are meant to be cornicelli, whose lore stems from Roman myth– a representation of Zeus's cornucopia, or horn of abundance. Lava from the eruptions of Mount Vesuvius are carved into hands that grip a gold wire from which the cornicelli dangle, capped with 9 and 10k gold. At some point these amulets which date back to the mid 1800s were converted to earrings with modern 14k gold earring hooks. Each earring measures about 2 1/2 inches long though one is slightly larger in width, 1/2 inch wide vs 3/8 inch wide.

Inventory# P10308

Regular price $785.00 USD Sale