Vintage Sterling Silver and Enamel Goddess Clip-On Earrings made in Siam

This pair of handmade sterling silver clip-on vintage earrings were made in the early to mid-twentieth century in Siam (now Thailand). They are stamped "Sterling", "Siam", and BB (the mark for Bombay Bazar). Thailand was called Siam until 1939 and then briefly reverted to the name Siam in 1945; the country permanently became Thailand in 1949. This establishes the date(s) these earrings were made: either pre-1939 or 1945-49. Servicemen often bought these as souvenirs or gifts and brought them back to the U.S. The silver is very bright and the earrings are in exceptional condition for their age, but are vintage and as such are considered used. There are no significant flaws. The enamel is not chipped or scuffed; there are a few tiny dots visible on very close inspection. The backs are in good condition with a few very minute scratches (pictured). The stamps are legible and complete. Please look at all the pictures to get the best sense of the condition of these unusual, culturally significant, and beautifully crafted earrings. They have variations, as handmade items do. The back clip hinges are strong and work as they should. Each vintage earring is unique and the earrings are a mirror image of one another (in other words, the images face one another). Each earring is approximately 1 inch in diameter.

The silver inlay on the white enamel depicts the goddess Mekhala, Goddess of Lightning. Mekhala (or Manimekhala) is a goddess of the seas and lightning in Southeast Asian (Thai, Cambodian) mythology, famous for her magical crystal ball that shoots blinding flashes, creating lightning while her pursuer, Ramasura (the thunder god), creates thunder with his axe. Their mythical chase manifests the natural phenomena of thunderstorms, often depicted in classical dances like the Cambodian Robam Moni Mekhala. These historical jewelry pieces are a great early-to-midcentury find in stellar condition.