New England Dory Earrings Sterling Silver

Celebrate the beauty and history of coastal life with our sterling silver New England Dory Earrings, an original design inspired by the iconic fishing dory. Handcrafted in New England, these earrings capture the elegance and functionality of the dory, a boat that has been a steadfast companion to fishermen for centuries.

The dory is a flat-bottomed, lightweight boat with a high bow and stern, designed for stability and ease of rowing. First used in the 16th century, dories became a staple of New England’s fishing industry, particularly for offshore cod fishing. Their simple yet ingenious design made them easy to stack on larger ships and launch into open waters. These earrings pay homage to this enduring maritime legacy, blending historical inspiration with modern craftsmanship.

Dory earrings are 3/8" x 1/4" and come packaged in our signature vintage chart lined tin.

• The Marblehead Dory and Swampscott Dory are both types of flat-bottomed boats that evolved from earlier fishing vessels in New England. The Swampscott Dory is considered one of the oldest designs, developed around the 1800s in the town of Swampscott, Massachusetts. The Marblehead Dory followed closely, with both boats sharing similar characteristics but slight design variations based on local needs. These boats were well-suited for the rocky shores and shallow waters of New England, where they were used for both inshore and offshore fishing.
• Dories are known for their lightweight construction, making them easy to launch from beaches or docks, even in shallow waters. This was especially important for fishermen who needed a boat that could be easily carried, launched, and operated by a small crew.
• Both the Marblehead Dory and Swampscott Dory feature a long, narrow hull with a flat bottom, which enables stability and ease of handling in both calm and rough waters. The flat bottom also allowed for easier beaching and handling in shallow waters. The upturned bow of these boats provides better maneuverability in waves and helps the boat "ride" over choppy water, making it an ideal design for New England's coastal conditions. The Swampscott Dory typically has a longer hull than the Marblehead Dory, which gives it greater speed, while the Marblehead Dory is more well-known for its maneuverability and stability.
• These dories were primarily used for commercial fishing, including cod fishing, lobstering, and herring fishing. Fishermen would use the dories to get from shore to larger boats or to fish in more shallow waters near the coast. The dories were often used as dinghies for larger schooners and fishing vessels, allowing fishermen to reach the shore or transport catch back to the main boat.
• The traditional construction of these dory boats involved wooden planks that were often clinker-built, meaning that the planks overlapped each other. This technique provided strength and durability, allowing the dories to withstand the harsh conditions of the sea. Many dories were built using oak or pine, which are both strong, resilient woods commonly found in New England forests.
• Although the Marblehead and Swampscott Dories fell out of commercial use with the advent of motorized boats, there has been a resurgence of interest in these classic vessels in recent years. Many enthusiasts and sailors now use these dories for recreational purposes, including rowing, sailing, and traditional boatbuilding. Dory races and regattas are also held in New England, celebrating the craftsmanship and history of these iconic boats.
• The design of the Marblehead and Swampscott Dories has influenced the development of many other types of small boats and has inspired modern designs in plywood construction and fiberglass versions of traditional dories. Their simplicity, efficiency, and seaworthiness continue to be admired by boatbuilders and maritime enthusiasts.