With her playfully bold, nature-inspired pieces, Angela Cummings has left a lasting mark on the world of jewelry design. Full of movement and sensational color, her eye-catching collar necklaces, stud earrings and bracelets continue to be favored by red-carpet celebrities and tastemakers the world over.
Cummings was born in Austria in 1944, during a time when her country was being torn apart by war. At the age of three her family moved to America, where she was raised. Returning to her native country as an adult, Cummings studied art in Perugia, Italy, then went on to study jewelry design in Hanau, West Germany. She graduated with a degree in gemology, goldsmithing and jewelry design from Zeichenakademie in 1967.
Cummings returned to the United States after finishing her studies. She marched into legendary American luxury house Tiffany & Co. in New York City and asked for a job. Under the mentorship of Donald Claflin, a designer who’d previously worked for David Webb, Cummings became a respected in-house designer for the brand. Her named collection, Angela Cummings Exclusively for Tiffany & Co., debuted in 1974.
Cummings created sumptuous 18K gold accessories that were inlaid with coral, opal, mother-of-pearl, jade and lapis lazuli. Not unlike the work of Elsa Peretti, who signed an exclusive contract with Tiffany & Co. in 1974, Cummings’ designs — seashell necklaces, maple leaf pendants — drew on the shapes and forms of the natural world.
As her style continued to develop, Cummings integrated silver, precious gemstones and platinum into her work, creating exquisite juxtapositions by mixing the materials with wood and iron. Her pieces increasingly featured more movement-inspired elements — curling vines, crashing waves and billowing cloud forms — that hearkened to the rhythms of nature.
In 1982, People magazine featured Cummings' jewelry and the publicity launched her into the spotlight. Two years later, she established her own business, Angela Cummings Inc., and began to experiment with abstraction in her work, as well as allowing her surroundings in Japan, where she opened several boutiques, to inspire her adornments.
Cummings retired in 2003, making a brief comeback in 2013 to collaborate with Assael Jewelry, for which she created an exclusive line of cultured pearl jewelry.
Find vintage Angela Cummings earrings, necklaces, brooches and other accessories on 1stDibs.
Rare Minimal Sterling Silver Ballpoint Pen, Tiffany & Co signed Angela Cummings
By Tiffany & Co., Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
A sleek embodiment of refined minimalism, this Modernist Sterling Silver Ballpoint Pen, signed by Angela Cummings and dating to circa 1990, is an outstanding example of late 20th-cen...
Sterling Silver
TIFFANY & CO. 1981 Angela Cummings Aerodynamic Twisted Pen In .925 Sterling
By Angela Cummings, Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
Sculptural twisted pen designed by Angela Cummings. This exceptional sculptural pen was designed in New York City at the Tiffany & Co. studios by renowned jewelry designer Angel...
Sterling Silver, Silver
Tiffany & Co. 1981 Angela Cummings Aerodynamic Twisted Pen .925 Sterling Silver
By Tiffany & Co., Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Sculptural twisted pen designed by Angela Cummings. Sculptural pen, created back in the 1981 in New York city at the Tiffany Studios. This fabulous sculpt...
Sterling Silver
Modernist Shell Form Sterling Silver Serving Knife Signed Cummings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
This Modernist Shell Form Sterling Silver Serving Knife, signed by Cummings, is a quintessential example of 1980s American craftsmanship and design. Created around 1985, this piece e...
Sterling Silver
ANGELA CUMMINGS 1983 For Arita Set of 3 Twisted Candlesticks In White Porcelain
By Angela Cummings, Arita
Located in Miami, FL
Set of Twisted Candlesticks designed by Angela Cummings. This is a beautiful and rare set of three table candlesticks designed in New York City by the celebrated artist-designer Ang...
Porcelain
Tiffany & Co. 'Modern Shell' Pattern Hollow Handle Bar Knife by Angela Cummings
By Tiffany & Co., Angela Cummings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine signed vintage designer bar knife. By Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. In the 'Modern Shell' pattern. In sterling silver with a hollow handle with in the form of a shell o...
Sterling Silver
Topkapi Set of 6 Porcelain Plates Made in Italy
By Les Ottomans
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
The magical atmosphere of the hidden places of the Ottoman Sultans this is what this collection represents Come and join in this mythologigal then uniq...
Porcelain
21° Century Italian Sterling Silver Ballpoint Pen
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Biro in argento massiccio, completamente lavorata a mano e incisa con volute barocche. La cura con cui è stata realizzata questa penna biro ne denota l'esperienza e la mano d'artist...
Sterling Silver
21st Century Italian Sterling Silver Fountain Pen
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Fountain pen made of solid silver, completely handcrafted and engraved with baroque volutes. The care with which this fountain pen was made denotes the experience and artistic hand ...
Sterling Silver
$4,486Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.4 in W 7.01 in D 3.75 in
Desk Set stripes enamel Fountain pen, Ballpoint pen and Tray.Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Rectangular tray with rounded corners in 925/1000 sterling silver with translucent fired enamels with two-tone stripes on guilloche and hand engravings, cm. 9.5 x 18. For fountain pe...
Gold, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Antique Signed Red Gem-Set American Sterling Silver Serving Spoon
By Campbell Metcalf Silver 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine antique sterling silver serving spoon. In sterling silver. By Campbell-Metcalf. Pattern: Colonial Set to the handle with glass cabochons in star and diamond bezels. Simpl...
Sterling Silver
$3,250
H 8 in W 6.5 in D 3.5 in
Vintage Signed Sterling Silver Modernist Sculptural Pitcher, Mexico, 1979
Located in North Miami, FL
This vintage substantial and signed sterling silver hallmarked modernist pitcher is fantastic. It has been professionally polished and looks like a piece of jewelry. It is so modern ...
Sterling Silver
Sterling Silver Serving Spoon
By Whiting Manufacturing Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver serving spoon in the “Louis XV” pattern by Whiting Silver. This pattern is famous for its scallops handle and its ele...
Sterling Silver
$165
H 5 in Dm 0.25 in
Modernist Sterling Silver Ballpoint Pen w/ Sculptural Clip signed Tiffany & Co.
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
This Modernist Sterling Silver Ballpoint Pen with a sculptural clip, signed by the prestigious Tiffany & Co., is a remarkable blend of minimalistic elegance and functional design...
Sterling Silver
$2,250 / set
H 1.438 in W 10 in D 5.375 in
Tiffany & Co Sterling Silver Mellon Form Serving dishes - A Pair
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Huntington, NY
A Pair of Tiffany & Co, Sterling Silver Mellon Form serving Bowls. This sharp Midcentury creation of iconic maker, Tiffany and Company, The pair sit on Ball feet with foliage form h...
Sterling Silver
$230
H 1.02 in W 7.88 in D 6.25 in
Vintage Japanese Porcelain Tray Arita Sometsuke Blue White Birds Decor
By Arita
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage rectangular porcelain tray features a traditional Arita style blue and white decor with motif of small bird sitting on flowering tree branches in Sometsuke decoration techniq...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Pottery
Cartier Must II ballpoint pen silver plated and palladium 1980s
By Cartier
Located in Paris, IDF
This Cartier Must II ballpoint pen from the 1980s is a rare piece made of silver plating and palladium, adorned with a distinctive engraved motif featuring Cartier's iconic "C". It b...
Silver Plate
Ikat Porcelain Dessert Plates - Set of 6, Made in Italy
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
Ikat patterns are an integral part of our colorful world, celebrating the beauty of this timeless design. Inspired by its rich heritage, we’ve transformed some of our most iconic Ikat designs into a vibrant porcelain plate collection. Handmade in Italy, this set of 6 plates is perfect for adding a joyful, playful touch to your tableware collection or as stunning decorative wall pieces. These plates are designed to bring elegance and delight to every dining experience. Made in Italy 100% Porcelain Hand-applied decal Set of 6 Ikat Plates...
Porcelain
Tiffany & Co sterling silver hair clip / barrette , Angela Cummings
By Angela Cummings, Tiffany & Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a beautiful wishbone minimalist design of a ginkgo leaf designed in the 80's by Angela Cummings, there is no an exact official count variations in production and styles an...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 1.25 in W 1.25 in D 0.125 in
Vintage 1980s Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Ribbon Omega Clip on Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Dayton, OH
Vintage 1980’s Angela Cummings sterling silver 925 French ribbon shaped jewelry clip on earrings. Angela Cummings because as a designer for Tiffany & Co in 1967, and left to form ...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Set Three Miniature Gold Leaf Hand-Painted Insect Vases
By Angela Cummings
Located in Westport, CT
Angela Cummings set of three miniature hand-painted gold leaf vases in original box with label, hand-painted one with ants, one with butterfly and ...
Enamel
Sold
H 2.25 in W 2.75 in D 1.38 in
Angela Cummings Tiffany & Co. Carved Stone Inlaid 18-Karat Gold Bracelet Bangle
By Angela Cummings, Tiffany & Co.
Located in Roslyn, NY
A beautiful 1980s multi-stone inlay masterpiece by tiffany & co., designed by angela cummings. Hand-carved multi-color hard stones including jade, rose quartz, and rock crystal i...
Jade, Rock Crystal, Gold
Sold
H 1 in W 1 in D 1 in
Angela Cummings Designer for Tiffany Sterling Silver Flatware Set Modern Shell
By Angela Cummings
Located in Big Bend, WI
Unique Angela Cummings sterling silver dinner flatware set with fabulous modern shell motif, differing shells, 40 pieces. This set includes: Eight dinner size knives, 6 - 9 3/4" & 2 ...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings 18-Karat Coiled Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
A pair of stylish coiled earrings in 18-karat gold by Angela Cummings.