Kuen Surface Silver Earrings by Man Ray

Kuen Surface Silver Earrings by Man Ray — a curve from the Surrealists’ favorite geometry, in silver for the ears.

After Man Ray, in 925 sterling silver, made in the USA.

The Design Story

In 1936 the art journal Cahiers d’Art sent Man Ray to the Institut Henri Poincaré in Paris to photograph its plaster models of non-Euclidean geometry. The strange, sensual shapes stayed with him: they returned in his photographs, in the 1948 paintings of his Shakespearean Equations series, and in the art world’s fascination with mathematics. One of them was the Kuen surface, a curve of constant negative curvature that, from one side, looks like a small figure holding up a disc. These sterling silver pieces carry that form from the blackboard to the body.

Why You’ll Love It

Most jewelry decorates; this piece also carries an idea. The Kuen surface is pure mathematics, yet in silver it turns soft and almost figurative, and that tension is exactly what drew Man Ray to it. It is small, quietly sculptural and impossible to mistake for anything else.

Made for Real Life

Wear it often; silver likes to be worn. Its siblings: Kuen Surface Silver Cufflinks by Man Ray and Kuen Surface Silver Pendant Necklace by Man Ray. For the full Man Ray story, see the Man Ray Chess Pieces and Board Set.

Product Details

Where It Shines

At dinner, at a gallery or simply every day.

Questions We Hear Most

What inspired the Kuen earrings?

Man Ray’s 1938 photographs and 1948 painting of the Kuen surface, a form from 19th-century mathematics.

What size are the earrings in centimetres?

About 3.8 × 1.9 cm each.

Can I wear the Kuen earrings every day?

Yes, they are small sculptural drops in solid sterling silver.

Is there a matching necklace?

Yes, the Kuen Surface pendant necklace shares the same form.

Do the earrings need pierced ears?

Yes, they are for pierced ears.

How do I keep the earrings shining?

Wipe them with a silver cloth and keep them in a dry pouch.

For the Trade

Sourcing for a client’s home, a hotel, a studio or a corporate gift program? Members of the LoftModern Trade Program (interior designers, architects, contractors, builders, home stagers and commercial buyers) receive trade pricing, up to 20% off retail on eligible brands, plus round-the-clock concierge support for stock checks and lead times. Apply once with your business details; we reply by email with your account.

Why We Love It

Surrealism you can wear.

Shipping Info