Featured What are these earrings supposed to resemble? Ancient Egyptian, African...?

These are brass, most likely, and they turned up in a Goodwill jar. They look like something I've seen meant to look like an Egyptian tomb find, or Etruscan, maybe Von Schliemann Troy hoard but....? No markings to be had and they are definitely not gold, and they have to be some sort of reproduction; the metal isn't brittle enough to be old.

 

The Met usually has something similar in its gift shop inventory. Trying to think what culture inspired. You're on the right track with Etruscan. It's something that way.

 

Unicef is selling these as 'Etruscan Tribute':
https://www.market.unicefusa.org/it...qeIxejz7RqIerWeg_N4-u5NTrmd1Erl0aArLQEALw_wcB



But think jewellers of many cultures found this boat shape good for earrings.

 

I don't think ornate enough for Etruscan. Earlier Egyptian to me.

 

STAR FRUIT

 

Look like Fulani hoops to me.

 

I think they are supposed to resemble STAR FRUIT

 

I'm won over. Here's a representative pair:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/660841990/

 

ya...but star fruit is yummy ....

 

Seed pods maybe? I guess star fruit is technically a seed pod, it looks like these have 3 sections and not 4.

 

That took me straight back to a holiday in Tobago many years ago where the hotel gave us a picnic lunch that included not a lot apart from two star fruit. No knife or anything. We mused over how we were meant to eat it ( or even if it was edible or just decoration )and to this day am not sure what the etiquette is!

 

Looks like Fulani wins ... but I like the Star Fruit idea.(LOL) I'd imagine one eats a whole one the same way you'd eat an apple. Bite into it and chew.

 

We considered that but they were so tough the outside was like tyre rubber.

 

I didn't know either, so of course Googled. Everything says to cut it into cross sections, so guess you needed to ask for a knife. Presenting it to you without one sounds like a joke they play on tourists. Or maybe just poor service. The National Kidney Foundation warns it could kill you if you have kidney disease.

 

You have solved a long standing conundrum!
We only discovered we needed a knife once we had settled down on the beach miles from anywhere. Agree probably a tourist joke although we did consider a game of football with it as we couldn't break into it

 

Most of these that end up outside West Africa are gold plated. The real ones are big and gold and the earwires are wound with red thread:

 

These are probably tourist souvenirs, or something made for export to areas with folks who are into African fashions.