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.
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
Tiffany & Co. 'Modern Shell' Pattern Hollow Handle Bar Knife by Angela Cummings
By Angela Cummings, Tiffany & Co.
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
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
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
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
$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
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
Georg Jensen Pyramid Sterling Silver Cheese/Bar Knife 225b
By Georg Jensen
Located in Hellerup, DK
A Georg Jensen sterling silver cheese/bar knife, item #225B in the Pyramid pattern, design #15 by Harald Nielsen from 1926. The knife features the distinctive geometric Pyramid sterl...
Sterling Silver
$3,500
H 1.5 in W 14.25 in D 12 in
Antique Signed Tiffany & Co. Sterling Silver Serving Dish with Floral Decoration
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This antique sterling silver serving dish or tray was made by the renowned Tiffany and Co. of the United States in approximately 1860 in the period Victorian style. This oval sterling silver tray...
Sterling Silver
Pair of Uta Feyl Porcelain Vases for Rosenthal, 1983
By Uta Feyl, Rosenthal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
wonderful pure white, matte porcelain, organically shaped vases by Uta Feyl for Rosenthal Germany in 1983, marked on the bottom. Priced as a set of 2.
Porcelain
Sterling Silver Serving Spoon
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Being offered is a sterling silver(serving)spoon. The bowl has a scalloped rim which is very unique— it’s usually smooth all the way around. The handle has a fancy design with a ha...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co Crystal Champagne Flutes Glasses, Pair
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Tiffany and Co. Champagne flutes/glasses, circa late-20th century. A beautiful pair from luxury American company Tiffany and Co. Markers' mark on bottom of both 'Tiffany an...
Crystal
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 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