These earrings are adapted from Clayton Knight’s 1927 pattern “Manhattan”. It was produced by the Stehli Silk Corporation as a dress fabric. The pattern reflects the influence of Italian Futurism with its strong diagonals suggesting the dynamism of modern life. Clayton Knight (1891-1969) was a well-known American aviation artist. He was also the father of Hilary Knight, author of "Heloise," the little girl who lived in New York's Plaza Hotel. Clayton Knight had served with a British fighter squadron in WWI. In WWII, along with Billy Bishop, he helped to organize the Eagle Squadrons, volunteer American fighter pilots who flew with the RAF before Pearl Harbor.