Kalevala jewellery 'Kalevan Karhu' bear drop earrings bronze in good condition.
Earrings are used and bronze has patina from use, but in very good condition (see pictures). There are no engravings. Hoops are steady and intact. Bear is circa 1cm in height. Earring from top to bottom circa 2,5cm. I no longer have the original box, but will package and send securely.
Both bears carry 'kk' stamp (please see pictures, the stamp does not show very clearly in the images, but in person the stamp is clear). Manufactured by Kalevala Koru (Kalevala Jewelry) made in Finland (not temu tat!)
Background to the design
In ancient Finnish and Nordic mythology, the bear (karhu) was considered a holy power animal and an amulet of immense strength and wisdom. It was revered as the "king of the forest" and was thought to have divine origins. Wearing jewelry shaped like a bear functioned as a protective talisman, bestowing the beast's power onto the wearer.
The specific stylized form of the Kalevankarhu seen on your earring was designed by Finnish artist Kaisaleena Mäkelä in 1999. While Mäkelä designed this specific silhouette in the late 1990s, she drew direct inspiration from Iron Age animal ornaments excavated from ancient Finnish burial sites.