Created by Joel Arthur Rosenthal (JAR) in Paris during the 2010s, these Physalis earrings draw inspiration from the delicate, lantern-like husks of the physalis plant. Fashioned in golden-toned aluminum, each earring is composed of two overlapping botanical forms, their irregular contours shaped into softly folded layers. Fine creases and branching veins travel across the surfaces, recalling the translucent delicacy of dried leaves and petals. Subtle variations between matte and reflective areas emphasize the depth of the folds, allowing light to gather along their raised edges and recede into the hollows. Measuring approximately 2.75 inches in length, the earrings possess an expansive, almost theatrical silhouette, their generous proportions amplifying the intricate character of the natural forms they evoke.

JAR jewels occupy a singular place in contemporary collecting. Rosenthal is known for producing his work in deliberately limited quantities and for maintaining an unusually discreet presence, making pieces bearing the JAR name relatively scarce on the secondary market. His aluminum creations are a particularly imaginative part of this body of work, using an unexpected material as a vehicle for saturated color, sculptural volume, and his longstanding fascination with flowers, leaves, and the natural world. This pair, preserved with its original JAR pouch, is an especially evocative example.

Weighing 41.7 grams, the pair balances the visual delicacy of its botanical inspiration with the substantial presence of a generously scaled jewel. The layered construction gives the earrings a distinctive dimensionality, their irregular folds suggesting the natural transformation of a husk as it dries and opens.

The ephemeral beauty of a fallen lantern flower, its delicate folds preserved in enduring golden form.