Some earrings are made to sparkle.
These were made to move.
Every step gives them life. The crescent moon sways above while the silver dancer follows behind, almost like they’re crossing a desert beneath a clear night sky. There isn’t a single turquoise stone anywhere on them, yet they feel unmistakably Southwestern.
That’s because the artist trusted silhouette more than decoration.
The figure is reduced to its essence—a few carefully cut lines, restrained stampwork, and graceful movement. It’s the kind of design that could only have come from someone who understood that sometimes the most powerful thing you can leave in a piece is empty space.
They’re playful.
They’re elegant.
And they don’t look like anyone else’s earrings.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Moon Dance
Maker: Signed © ’89 Justus (artist presently unattributed)
Origin: Likely Navajo or Southwestern studio silversmith
Date: 1989
Materials
- Sterling silver
Construction
- Hand-fabricated articulated earrings
- Crescent moon upper elements
- Stylized dancer figures
- Hand-stamped detailing
- Lever-back ear wires (likely later replacements)
Hallmark
Hand-scribed © ’89 Justus (or a close variation). No confident attribution has been established despite available hallmark references.
Collector’s Gallery Value
$450–700
Potentially more if the maker is eventually identified.
Field Observation
The articulation is the star here. Rather than relying on gemstones, the artist created movement through multiple suspended elements. It’s a sophisticated late-1980s design that still feels fresh today.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
These are exactly the sort of earrings I’d wear on a live because people are going to ask about them.
Not because they’re huge.
Because they’re weird.
And weird is good.
Every serious jewelry collection needs a couple pieces that make someone stop and say,
“Wait… what are those?”
These are those earrings.
Moon Dance Earrings
Sterling Silver
Handcrafted with Care
Vintage
Have a burning question? Please feel free to contact us
Some earrings are made to sparkle.
These were made to move.
Every step gives them life. The crescent moon sways above while the silver dancer follows behind, almost like they’re crossing a desert beneath a clear night sky. There isn’t a single turquoise stone anywhere on them, yet they feel unmistakably Southwestern.
That’s because the artist trusted silhouette more than decoration.
The figure is reduced to its essence—a few carefully cut lines, restrained stampwork, and graceful movement. It’s the kind of design that could only have come from someone who understood that sometimes the most powerful thing you can leave in a piece is empty space.
They’re playful.
They’re elegant.
And they don’t look like anyone else’s earrings.
Artifact Registry
Artifact: Moon Dance
Maker: Signed © ’89 Justus (artist presently unattributed)
Origin: Likely Navajo or Southwestern studio silversmith
Date: 1989
Materials
- Sterling silver
Construction
- Hand-fabricated articulated earrings
- Crescent moon upper elements
- Stylized dancer figures
- Hand-stamped detailing
- Lever-back ear wires (likely later replacements)
Hallmark
Hand-scribed © ’89 Justus (or a close variation). No confident attribution has been established despite available hallmark references.
Collector’s Gallery Value
$450–700
Potentially more if the maker is eventually identified.
Field Observation
The articulation is the star here. Rather than relying on gemstones, the artist created movement through multiple suspended elements. It’s a sophisticated late-1980s design that still feels fresh today.
Eric’s Notes from the Field
These are exactly the sort of earrings I’d wear on a live because people are going to ask about them.
Not because they’re huge.
Because they’re weird.
And weird is good.
Every serious jewelry collection needs a couple pieces that make someone stop and say,
“Wait… what are those?”
These are those earrings.
