Sofonisba Black Earrings

Sofonisba Black Earrings

Hand-made, in Milan. 

Length: circa 8cm

Weight: circa 10g

Italian resin. Galvanized gold ball stud. Free from nickel and lead.

To remember and honour the identities of the women that inspire us and whose stories we wish to celebrate, we have named each piece of jewellery after a female pioneer at the forefront of Italian history.

This extravagant necklace, together with its matching set of earrings, honours one of Art History’s most accomplished artists, Sofonisba Anguissola.

Born into a minor Cremonese noble family around 1532, the young Sofonisba, together with her sisters, received a well-rounded education, which included the fine arts, in which she particularly excelled. Her remarkable artistic talent quickly garnered attention and she was sent to train with the Cremonese painter Bernardo Campi. During her apprenticeship she corresponded with none other than Michelangelo, who advised and critiqued her work, which helped to cultivate her skills as a painter. As her career began to flourish, she made a name for herself as a portrait painter. By 1559, her fame as a female portrait painter had spread outside Italy and she was invited to become a lady-in-waiting to Elisabeth of Valois, the wife of King Philip II of Spain. At the Spanish court, Anguissola developed a nuanced and engaging style of portraiture that suited her royal patrons' need for imperial representation, and after the death of Elisabeth of Valois, she entered the services of the King. Overcoming one of the dominant obstacles of her time, she secured a position as a court artist, a role normally reserved only for men. As one of the few women who succeeded in overcoming the complex socio-political obstacles, she forged a successful career as an artist on the European stage. To this day, she is considered as the first female artist of the Renaissance to achieve international fame during her lifetime. 

Each Pietrasanta piece is lovingly hand-made in Milan, and crafted using the highest quality materials sourced from Italy. Each item comes in a soft white velvet pouch, and a branded presentation box so that you can safely store your new jewellery.

All Pietrasanta jewellery is completely hypoallergenic – it’s free from lead, copper and nickel, so that you can wear it all day long without any issues.

The jewellery may be: plated in gold; silver 925, galvanized gold or galvanized silver – we would recommend the following steps to ensure your items are not damaged and stay clean. The wiring, clasps and studs may tarnish naturally over time. Tarnishing occurs naturally and to avoid this you may use a lint-free cloth to clean the metals parts of your jewellery. Similarly, as certain parts may bend under pressure, we suggest that the items be stored and transported in rigid boxes to avoid any external pressure compromising the item. If the jewellery does not ‘fall’ as expected, remember not to press down on the item, but try to gently align the pieces to their intended state.