Henry Dunay Sabi Finish Ear Clips in 18K Gold, circa 1970s

A sculptural pair of ear clips by Henry Dunay, one of the most decorated American goldsmiths of the twentieth century. The form spirals inward like a shell, matte-finished lobes furling within a frame of high-polish ribbed gold with the contrast between the two surfaces carrying the entire design without a single stone.

The matte areas are executed in Dunay's Sabi finish, the hand-applied texture he trademarked and made his signature. Fine directional striations across the surface catch light softly rather than reflecting it, so the polished borders read as bright ribbons against a warm, muted ground. It is a finish that is instantly recognizable to collectors and difficult to imitate convincingly.

At 34 millimeters and 34 grams the pair has genuine substance, sitting high on the ear and reading as a bold statement. Fitted with clip backs; no posts. Signed Dunay, stamped 18K with copyright mark and numbered B4350.