Actor Zendaya wore gold medallion earrings attributed to the Ziwiye hoard discovered in north-west Iran in the late 1940s at a London photocall for the film The Odyssey, sparking intense scrutiny from antiquities experts over the transparency of rare treasure trading. According to Barron London, the Mayfair-based gallery and dealer that owns the earrings, the gold pieces are attributed to the Ziwiye hoard discovered in north-west Iran in the late 1940s and were mounted with diamonds in yellow gold by London jeweller Glenn Spiro.
The Ziwiye Hoard Artifacts and Provenance Controversy
The Mayfair retailer claims the jewelry celebrates the remarkable artistry of ancient Persian goldsmiths and encourages wider appreciation of one of the world’s great artistic traditions. However, academics and heritage advocates take a sharply different view of the display. Romina Frohar, founder of the Forensic Archive of Iran and a PhD researcher at the Glasgow School of Art, launched a petition calling for Barron London to publish complete known provenance, reveal legality checks, permit artifact examination, and suspend the sale. According to Frohar, cultural appreciation cannot substitute for provenance transparency when objects are publicly presented as Iranian cultural heritage.
Antiquities Expert Warnings on Illicit Artifacts
Dr. Christos Tsirogiannis, an antiquities expert at the Swiss Federal Office of Culture, stated that he was extremely surprised no one among the celebrity’s entourage intervened to protect her. Tsirogiannis noted that about 90% of antiquities on the market sooner or later prove to be illicit or lacking proper documentation. Furthermore, Tsirogiannis raised moral concerns over wearing items potentially looted from ancient burials, questioning how someone might feel wearing an ancient dead woman’s earrings.
Did you know?
High-end auction houses and dealers frequently offer ancient artifacts ranging from beads and Hellenistic earrings to bronze dress pins and royal reliefs. For instance, Christie’s sold a 3,000-year-old neo-Assyrian relief from the palace of Ashurnasirpal II for nearly $31m in 2018.
Legal Complexities of State Ownership and Looted Antiquities
Establishing legal ownership of ancient items remains fraught with complex international laws. Simon Mackenzie, a professor of criminology at Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, explained that most source countries now have state ownership laws declaring that newly discovered ancient objects belong to the state. Consequently, unauthorized discovery and looting function essentially as a form of government theft. Mackenzie noted that because state ownership laws in countries like Iran were built up over time and were not retroactive, complex legal arguments frequently arise regarding the exact dates when specific theft rules applied.
Precedents in Celebrity Antiquities Controversies
High-profile red carpet appearances have previously thrust disputed antiquities into the global spotlight. When Kim Kardashian posed in a gold dress next to a gilded Egyptian coffin at the Met Gala in 2018, antiquities trafficking experts immediately took notice. The Metropolitan Museum of Art had acquired the 2,100-year-old coffin of a priest named Nedjemankh for $4m before investigators revealed it had been excavated by thieves in 2011, smuggled out of Egypt, and given false provenance documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Ziwiye hoard earrings worn by Zendaya?
The earrings feature gold medallion plaques attributed to the Ziwiye hoard discovered in north-west Iran in the late 1940s, mounted with diamonds in yellow gold by jeweller Glenn Spiro and owned by dealer Barron London.
Why are academics petitioning Barron London?
Academics and heritage advocates are demanding complete transparency regarding the provenance, acquisition history, legal checks, and public examination of the artifacts.
What legal challenges face ancient antiquities on the market?
Experts note that state ownership laws in source countries often classify unrecorded excavations as theft, though non-retroactive legislation complicates historical ownership claims.
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