Andrés Gallardo Little Hands Gold-Plated Hook Earrings

An unexpected material turns wearable, thanks to statement jewelry crafted in porcelain.

Hands—which we use to communicate, sense, measure, and interact with the material worlds—were explored in Hand Signals: Digits, Fists, and Talons, a 2013 exhibition of 20th-century posters and ephemera from the Museum’s collection. Artists and designers have focused on this body part to represent a gamut of emotions. These Andrés Gallardo Little Hands Hook Earrings may be small but they can say so much. The mismatched pair features one open hand and one closed into a fist, both sculpted in porcelain and set on 18k gold-plated brass hooks. Wear them as a simple statement alone or with the matching necklace for additional impact. Andrés Gallardo and Marina Casal formed their Madrid-based brand in 2010 when they started making jewelry out of porcelain found at flea markets and antique shops—today they work with artisans in Spain and Portugal who use traditional techniques to handcraft each piece. The Andrés Gallardo Little Hands Gold-Plated Hook Earrings have an open hand that measures 1.97l with a 1.14l x 0.75”w pendant and a closed fist that measures 1.58l with a 0.79l x 0.47”w pendant.