Ear Cuffs: A History Worth Hearing

Ear Cuffs: A History Worth Hearing

Our fascination with the ear cuff continues to grow season upon season, as the style elite, celebrity icons and designer catwalk shows continue to embrace and rediscover this key accessory trend.

We were curious to know more about this enchanting ear adornment, and considered how it may have developed over time to become such a loved and lusted-over jewelry box addition.

With the growth of our ear cuff collection at SOPHIESCLOSET.COM we decided to delve a little into history and discover where the story began…

It Began with the Kafa…

The first type of ear cuff ever recorded in history, in 2000 BC, was called a Kaffa. Examples of the original Kaffa were found in burial sites during excavations that took place in the British Isles.

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Kaffa circa 2000 BC

Unlike earrings and clip-ons that attach to the earlobe, these were made to attach to the pinna, the visible outside edge of the ear.

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Lion motif Kaffa, date unknown

No piercing was required for this type of earring and since its weight put little pressure on the ear, more elaborate and large designs were created.

Evidence of Kaffa illustrated onto pottery circa 800 BC
Evidence of Kaffa illustrated onto pottery circa 800 BC

Early Kaffas were crafted from brass with no stone embellishment and designed with a large round mount to wrap around the ear.

Greece – 350 BC

Greek aristocrats wore golden ornate adaptations of the brass Kaffas in approximately 350 BC.

Golden detailed pegasus Kaffa and Silver and gold pendant portrait displaying Kaffa fcirca 350BC
Golden detailed pegasus Kaffa and Silver and gold pendant portrait displaying Kaffa circa 350 BC

They were worn as a symbol, to reflect a wealthy status in society and were more elaborate and fine in design in comparison to the early Kaffas.

Traditional painting circa 350 BC showing the simple golden Kaffa
Traditional painting circa 350 BC showing the simple golden Kaffa

Asia – 1200 AD

Kaffa images were seen in ancient Indian art dating back to the 12th Century. These Kaffas were made using precious metals and stones and were decorated with numerous chains and pearls that clipped from the ear lobe to the nose or to the hair. 

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Canvas illustration of a woman drinking tea in decorative jewelry, including beaded Kaffa. circa 1200 AD

Indian Kaffas were worn mostly at weddings and celebrations and this is still seen in the Indian culture to this day.

Female musicians wedding of Aurangzeb
Canvas illustration of bridal party wearing traditional jewelry, including ornate Kaffa circa 1200 AD

In Thailand, Kaffas were also seen during the 12th century. This is illustrated in many of the antique paintings and sculptures of that time period in Thailand.

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Traditional Thai interior decoration with statues wearing large Kaffas circa 1200 AD

Thai Kaffas consisted of more detailed and sharp winged designs that were larger in size and mostly bird-inspired. Kaffas today are a part of the traditional Thai costume.

Ornate Thai Kaffas circa 1200 AD
Ornate Thai Kaffas circa 1200 AD

Europe – 1800AD

In the 18th century Kaffas appeared in Europe. These modernised Kaffas, unlike those from the ancient period, were more restrained in execution and outwardly resembled classic earrings. Jewelers used floral ornaments and patterns to create feminine Kaffas. These were crafted using premium metals and decorated with precious stones, mainly diamonds, sapphires and rubies.

Lavinia Fontana portait of Isabella Ruini as Venus 1592
Lavinia Fontana portait of Isabella Ruini as Venus 1592

These modernized ornate and jeweled Kaffas were only affordable to the upper class, and worn to showcase wealth and social status as in ancient Greece.

Kaffas gold plated and adorned in Diamonds and rubys, approx. 1800AD, designer unknown
Kaffas gold plated and adorned in Diamonds and rubys, approx. 1800AD, designer unknown

America – 2000AD

In the 20th century, Kaffas were no more. Women no longer lusted over classic ornate or heavy large gold earrings and craved something new glamourous and exciting. It was during the post-war prosperity in America that Earrites were born.

Editorial adverts by Marcel Boucher, approx. 1920
Editorial adverts by Marcel Boucher, approx. 1920

Marcel Boucher, the French jeweler who immigrated to New York in the early 1920s met the demands of the elite women of America by creating the first Earrite. The Earrite was an ear jewel or earring which was worn over the ear just like a Kaffa but clipped and pinned to the earlobe. The designs were very feminite and delicate and became so popular in the 1950s that Boucher patented his creation and sold them individually.

Editorial Adverts, Albert Weiss, Kramer and Trifari circa 1920's
Editorial Adverts, Albert Weiss, Kramer and Trifari circa 1920’s

Popular among fashionistas and socialites alike, Earrites also appeared on the famous ears of the most successful actresses of that time period: Marylin Monroe, Lita Baron and Miranda Carmen were photographed wearing Earrites.

From left to right; Lita Baron, Carmen Miranda and Marilyn Monroe
From left to right; Lita Baron, Carmen Miranda and Marilyn Monroe

In 1951 to 1957 when the television series “I Love Lucy” was being broadcast, the main character Lucy, played by the Legendary Lady of Comedy, Lucille Ball, was often seen wearing Earrites.

Actress Lucille Ball
Actress Lucille Ball

Modern Ear Cuffs

20 years later and the glamorous Earrties were known as something of the past. Ear cuffs were now on the scene and recognized as a symbol of toughness rebellion.

Actress Edie Sedgwick - 1950's
Actress Edie Sedgwick – 1950’s

The mid 1980s saw ear cuffs adorning the runway in a mix of pop and punk culture thanks to Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Alexander McQueen, Etro and Alexander Wang

Ear Cuffs 1980s
Ear Cuffs 1980s

The 1990s saw the next wave of popularity for ear cuffs, however their popularity was no longer glamourous and instead developed from the punk trend. They re-emerged as simple silver accessories, embellished with multiple chains, spikes and studs.

Six Lemeure (Jenna von Oÿ), Joey Russo (Joey Lawrence) and Blossom Russo (Mayim Bialik) from the 1990's hit TV show - Blossom and Six
Six Lemeure (Jenna von Oÿ), Joey Russo (Joey Lawrence) and Blossom Russo (Mayim Bialik) from the 1990’s hit TV show – Blossom and Six

In 2003, the ears of Alexander McQueen’s runway models were decorated with Kaffas in the shape of feathers.

Alexander Mcqueen AW 2003 collection
Alexander Mcqueen AW 2003 collection

Today…

11 years on and wearing ear cuffs, as we call them today, is a trend that has been rediscovered over and over.  From Rodarte and Jason Wu to Chloe, Dries Van Notem, Thakoon, Jean-Paul Gaultier and Roberto Cavalli, high fashion designers are continuously adapting the ear cuff into something of their own.

Rodarte, Thakoon, and Jean Paul Gualiter, 2013
Rodarte, Thakoon, and Jean Paul Gualiter, 2013

The transformation of this ear ornament every season is fascinating and we can’t wait to share the Fall/Winter 2014 ear cuff collections with you soon!

Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence and Cara Delevigne 2013-1014
Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence and Cara Delevigne 2013-1014

Here are a few of our favorite ear cuffs available now at SOPHIESCLOSET.COM:

Ear Cuffs at SOPHIESCLOSET.COM
Ear Cuffs at SOPHIESCLOSET.COM

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