Meiji Butterfly Drop Earrings*The Met Store Store

Art jewelry inspired by The Met collection.

Butterflies are beloved subjects in Japanese art, not only for their poetic beauty but for their association with longevity and springtime. These shimmering earrings are inspired by the mother-of-pearl butterflies decorating a marvelous Japanese box (second half of the 19th century) in The Met’s holdings. Likely reserved for ceremonial tea utensils, the Museum’s Meiji-period treasure—bequeathed by the visionary collector, silversmith, and Tiffany & Co. designer Edward C. Moore (American, 1827–1891)—boasts magnificent craftwork and serves as the most significant example of a Japanese lacquer technique known as maki-e (meaning “sprinkled picture”) in Moore’s expansive collection.  

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