Unknown artist, Italian

The Grand Tour—an educational and experiential venture taken by young European aristocrats in the 1700s and 1800s—provided ample opportunities for collecting. Inspired by archaeological discoveries, these earrings and brooch were produced for and purchased by travelers. As visitors to Italy flocked to the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum—ancient Roman cities that were destroyed and buried under volcanic ash in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79—artisans capitalized on their excitement by producing lava jewelry.