The Streaming Tears Earring

Alighieri

The Streaming Tears Earring is a single earring, handcrafted from 24ct gold plated bronze and sterling silver, in Hatton Garden, London.

Measurements:
21cm in length
1.5cm in width
6.2 grams

Earring Posts:
Gold plated sterling silver posts.

For reasons of hygiene, earrings are non-refundable and cannot be exchanged.

Story
In the fifth canto of Purgatorio Dante encounters the sinner, Buonconte da Montefeltro. Buonconte led the Ghibelline army (Dante’s rival faction), and died in the Battle of Campaldino, 1289. Upon his death, the devil promptly appeared, ready and eager to take his soul into the Infernal abyss. However, he is turned away by an angel. Somehow, the Ghibelline leader is saved from Inferno, at the final moment of his life, because he sheds just one little teardrop – una lacrimetta.

For our fifth birthday collection, I wanted to explore the cathartic role of water and tears. Inspired by Montefeltro’s one salty lacrimetta, Roman tear catchers, and the symbolic role of rivers and oceans running through the Commedia, I set out for a salty pink lake (the backdrop for the scene) in the depths of Western Australia, blown glass vessels in tow.

Having created Alighieri during a somewhat dark time in my life, the collections have always been tinged with a sense of melancholy. As I turn 30 and the brand turns 5, “No More Tears” is a celebration. Creating these Modern Heirlooms and telling these stories has been my joy and catharsis – much like Buonconte’s lacrimetta.

This collection is a treasure trove of armour: little emblems of protection, in the form of sculptural hands and Sicilian bleeding hearts, along with gilded chain vests, belts with small tools clipped on, and of course, glass vessels, to fill with adventures to come, and the occasional salty tear.