WORK hoops earrings

MATERIALS rubber, silver and gold plated

DESCRIPTION  My pair of hoops is a play on the classic Portuguese gold earring, a touchstone of womanhood. Traditionally, this accessory is not just eye-catching and a sign of economic status, but also protects its user from evil spirits. Whatever its symbolism, style, size or emotional value, earrings were worn every day, from birth to burial, without fail. Taking this as my inspiration, I have envisioned a sequence of six versatile hoops – from rubber ready-mades consisting of flush pipe washers and car exhaust valves to a more classic interpretation of handmade silver hoops plated in yellow gold, thus offering three possible pairings: the simplicity of a black silhouette; the elegance of the gold curves, adding volume to the black hoops by adorning the exterior and interior rims with an accent of metal; the interplay of solid colour and form, which once separated into its individual parts can be worn as bangles or again, hoop earrings in plain black, or a ring of golden light (variable dimensions)    *Pictures by Tamia Dellinger