Sterling Silver Chameleon Earrings

Description

These stunning little chameleon earrings were inspired by our love of chameleons—specifically the Knysna dwarf chameleon, which is endemic to the Garden Route area. It has really bright colours and the attitude of a honey badger. These fiercely territorial members of the Bradypodion family (meaning “slow-footed” in Greek) are currently threatened, mainly due to the destruction of their habitat, namely the Knysna forest. The illegal trade in chameleons for the pet industry is also starting to become a serious problem threatening their survival.
There are about 20 species of chameleon that naturally occur in South Africa, of which only two are “true chameleons”. The flap-necked chameleon and the Namaqua chameleon lay eggs, whereas the 18 or so dwarf chameleon species all give birth to live young. Most of these “dwarf” chameleons are endemic to South Africa, with only one occurring in Madagascar as well. They all occupy very small geographic areas.
One of the major inspirational aspects of the chameleon earrings we designed is the pole they hold onto. Having grown up with these adorable little reptiles, we could never understand how they could be depicted hanging in mid-air, and why they were never placed on a branch as they naturally occur. We have carried this design concept through many of our inspired pieces, and it has been replicated over and over again by others drawing inspiration from our work.
Read more about these fascinating little predators here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knysna_dwarf_chameleon