Turkish Amethyst Drop Earrings*The Met Store Best

Art jewelry inspired by The Met collection.

These eye-catching amethyst earrings pay tribute to the unusual purple detailing on a Turkish textile fragment (ca. 1570–80) in The Met’s Islamic art galleries. The Museum’s woven work, probably crafted in Istanbul during the late 16th century, bears an ogival lattice design (derived from the term “ogive,” which refers to a pointed arch) and serves as an outstanding example of the luxe Ottoman fabrics known as kemha. These sumptuous silk fabrics were highly valued throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, and many of them were used to make Christian vestments across Europe. The shape of this particular textile indicates that it was probably part of a chasuble, a garment worn by a member of the clergy.