The building blocks of Coast Salish art—the oval and crescent—are gorgeously highlighted in this elegant design by Nooksack artist Louie Gong.
A mother-of-pearl-inlaid post and crescent share a swirling rainbow of sea colors while a free-swinging gold oval flashes like sunken treasure beneath the waves in our Salish Sea Earrings. Louie chose mother-of-pearl, the nacreous interior of abalone shells, to adorn these earrings for a very special reason. "Using abalone honors our connection to the sea," shares Louie, "which we all have relied on for food, transportation, and artistic inspiration since the beginning, yet often take for granted."
One of the most notable contemporary Coast Salish artists working today, Louie often uses the ovals and crescents found in classic Coast Salish art in his work: see more examples in his full collection of Eighth Generation products here.
The Salish Sea refers to an area in the Pacific Northwest Coast that includes the Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and an intricate network of connecting waterways and channels. This region has been home to Coast Salish people since time immemorial.
Please note: due to the natural variation in mother-of-pearl, each earring is unique. Some earrings will have mother-of-pearl that appears more purple overall, while some may appear more green. We have done our best to pair each set so that your earrings will match one another. Unfortunately, we are unable fulfill requests for custom color selection: if you would like to ensure your pair is more green or more purple, please visit our store in Downtown Seattle to select your earrings.
- Gold-plated stainless steel; mother-of-pearl inlay; each earring is unique
- Post-style earrings with butterfly backs
- 2.75 in long / 6.98 cm long
- Do not swim or shower with your earrings
- Designed by Louie Gong (Nooksack)
Thank you for supporting Inspired Natives®, not "Native-inspired."
