Zendaya Faces Backlash Over Wearing Ancient Ziwiyeh Hoard Gold Earrings

The earrings, which feature gold disc medallions dating to the first millennium BCE, are attributed to the Ziwiyeh hoard—a collection of gold, silver, bronze, and pottery objects discovered near the village of Ziwiyeh in Iran’s Kurdistan province in the late 1940s. The objects were remounted by London jeweller Glenn Spiro into a non-invasive claw setting featuring diamonds and 18-karat gold as part of his Materials of the Old World series.

Provenance and Ethical Concerns

Concerns were also raised regarding the ownership history of the medallions. According to a 2015 research paper cited by Theguardian, surviving pieces of the Ziwiyeh hoard were sold on the antiquities market after leaving Iran in the 1960s. Critics argue that without a transparent ownership history, the objects are “likely looted,” complicating the verification of their lawful export from Iran.

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Barron London’s Response

The earrings are owned by Barron London, a Mayfair-based gallery and art collection that acquired the pieces in 2020. In a statement, the gallery maintained that the earrings are responsibly stewarded in accordance with their documented provenance and all applicable legal requirements.

Barron London further stated that the loan to Zendaya was never for commercial purposes and that the intention was to honour the remarkable artistry of ancient Iranian goldsmiths. The gallery emphasized that the medallions were placed in a simple, noninvasive claw setting and were not pierced, reshaped, or permanently altered. Addressing the controversy, the company added, Cultural heritage rightly inspires important conversations, and we welcome informed dialogue about provenance, preservation and the appreciation of exceptional craftsmanship.

Context of the Debate

The backlash occurs amid ongoing scrutiny regarding the possession of ancient artefacts by Western institutions. Critics have pointed to the British Museum’s handling of the Benin bronzes and the Parthenon marbles as part of a broader pattern of displaced cultural heritage.

For some observers, the timing of the press tour for The Odyssey—in which Zendaya portrays the goddess Athena—has intensified the criticism. Prof. Babaie highlighted the contrast between glamourising the antiquities of Iran while geopolitical tensions remain high. Meanwhile, supporters of the jewellery choice, including the jeweller Glenn Spiro, have framed the earrings as a way to celebrate ancient craftsmanship, telling Galerie magazine in 2025: You can wear something around your neck that dates back thousands of years but is still contemporary and cool.

As reported by Euronews, MSN, and Indiatimes, the public remains divided. While some suggest the actress should have worn a replica, others view the visibility of the pieces as a prompt for necessary discussion regarding global cultural ownership.