Zendaya’s appearance at a London photocall wearing earrings incorporating gold plaques allegedly dating to first-millennium BC Iran has reignited debate over the ownership, trade and public display of ancient artefacts. Critics argue that presenting such objects as luxury jewellery risks obscuring questions about their provenance, legality and the cultural claims of the countries from which they originated.

The earrings were loaned by Mayfair dealer Barron London, which attributes the plaques to the Ziwiye hoard discovered in north-west Iran in the late 1940s and says they celebrate Persian craftsmanship. A petition seeks full provenance records, details of legality checks, independent examination and a pause in any sale; experts stress that even lawfully held antiquities can raise ethical concerns if ownership histories and public access remain unclear.