Stacked wampum earrings

A beautifully colored and shaped pair of wampum earrings by Wampanoag artist Elizabeth James-Perry. The artist selects her shells carefully and cuts and finishes them to preserve their attractive contours and colors. The contours are difficult to display in two-dimensional photographs, but they add a lot to the visual aesthetic when seen in person.

Wampum has been used by coastal tribes for thousands of years. Items made from quahog shells, commonly called wampum, are culturally significant to New England tribes and are held in great esteem within families and within tribes.

Perry hand selects each quahog shell for color and other qualities. Perry continues this traditional work form as a way of honoring her connection to her ancestors, their history, their way of life, and the ocean that sustains them.

Each earring has four tubular wampum beads, two light and two dark. They are attached with sinew to sterling silver findings.

Each earring is approximately 1 1/2″ high; beads are approximately 3/8″ diameter.

Materials: quahog shells, artificial sinew, sterling silver ear hoops