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.
Angela Cummings Huge Lucite Bracelet
By Angela Cummings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Huge lucite bracelet signed by Angela Cummings and dated 1983. The interior has a varied scratched design that shows differently as one turns it. The bracelet is very heavy and thre...
Pair of Angela Cummings Tiger Striped Lucite Bangle Bracelets
By Angela Cummings
Located in Darnestown, MD
This pair of undulating lucite bracelets were made early in the career of noted American jewelry designer, Angela Cummings. One is matte on both sides...
Estate Pair of 18K Yellow Gold Coral, Green Onyx & Diamond Bangle Bracelets
Located in Miami, FL
A striking estate pair of hinged bangle bracelets crafted in 18K yellow gold, each showcasing a bold and colorful gemstone inlay accented with sparkling diamonds. One bracelet featur...
Coral, Diamond, Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$120Sale Price|38% Off
Plastic Bangle Bracelets, 1950's
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of 1950's plastic bangle bracelets in an ivory white and olive green. The pair looked great when stacked together or wear them separat...
$1,498Sale Price|25% Off
W 0.85 in L 7.09 in
Angela Cummings 1995 Studio Twisted Sculptural Bangle In .925 Sterling Silver
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Free form bangle designed by Angela Cummings. Beautiful sculptural bangle bracelet, created by Angela Cummings at her own silversmith studio in New York city, back in the 1995. This sculptural bangle has been designed with modernist patterns of melted free-forms elements. It is a one of a kind piece crafted in solid .925/.999 sterling silver with high polished finish. This is a very nice and rare piece for any serious jewelry collector, both her signed pieces for Tiffany & Co. created in the 1970's and 1980's and also her own exclusive pieces, remain highly collectible and are admired for their beauty, comfort and easily recognizably in style. We have never seen this model, so most probably part of a very limited edition. Weight: 28.85 Grams, (18.49 Dwt.). Length: 7 Inches (18 Cm). Hallmarks: Stamped with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay of the silver and signed, "©CUMMINGS 1995...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$34,950
W 1.18 in L 6.5 in
TIFFANY & CO 1978 Angela Cummings Geometric Bangle In 18Kt Gold With Inlaid Gems
By Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
Geometric bangle designed by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. Beautiful geometric piece created in New York city by the iconic Angela Cummings for the Tiffany Studios, back in the ...
Jade, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings AC Studio Sterling Silver Large Cuff Bracelet #23296
By Angela Cummings
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Angela Cummings AC Studio Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet- This striking cuff bracelet features Angela Cummings' signature sculptural design, with bold interlocking loops of polished ...
Sterling Silver
$49,800
W 1.38 in L 7.25 in
TIFFANY & CO. 1977 Angela Cummings Geometric Orchids Bangle In 18Kt Jade & Lapis
By Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
Bangle bracelet designed by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. Beautiful geometric piece, created in New York city by the iconic Angela Cummings for the Tiffany Studios, back in the ...
Lapis Lazuli, Jade, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
$27,375Sale Price|25% Off
L 7 in
ANGELA CUMMINGS 1983 Geometric Dots Bracelet 18Kt Gold With Opal & Black Jade
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Geometric bangle-bracelet designed by Angela Cummings. This is an extremely rare bangle-bracelet created in New York City by Angela Cummings, back in 1982-83. The fabulous modernist...
Black Jade, Black Opal, Jade, Opal, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
$24,712Sale Price|25% Off
W 0.65 in L 7 in
TIFFANY & CO. 1979 Angela Cummings Geometric Bracelet 18Kt Gold Jade & Coral
By Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Miami, FL
Geometric bangle-bracelet designed by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. This is a very rare bangle-bracelet created by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. back in 1979. The modernist ...
Coral, Black Jade, Jade, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
$495
H 1 in D 0.25 in Dm 3 in
Pair of 1930’s Crythansium Bangles, Pierced & Molded Celluloid Bracelets
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Pair of 1930’s Crythansium Bangles, Pierced & Molded. Incredible muted green color that changes with lighting. Beautiful Semi-translucent, they have a lovely soft glow and golden...
Art Deco Bakelite Carved Bangle Bracelets Set of 3 Amber Orange, Caramel, Red
Located in North Miami, FL
The set of 3 art deco authentic vintage carved bangle bakelite bracelets are in the hues of red, amber orange and caramel. They are all hand carved ...
Huge Deco Sparkle Bracelet
Located in New York, NY
Oversized sparkle bracelet from the 1930s. This scale of bracelet is very hard to find. Hundreds of orange rhinestones are "paved" into the bakelite ...
14 Karat Rose Gold, White Gold and Yellow Gold Diamond Bangles Bracelets
Located in New York, NY
14K Gold Diamond Bangles. Available in Rose Gold, Yellow Gold and White Gold. Each bangle set with 4.50 carats of fine white round diamonds. Each Bracelet has some flex movement once...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Rose Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Huge Lucite Bracelet
By Angela Cummings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Huge lucite bracelet signed by Angela Cummings and dated 1983. The interior has a varied scratched design that shows differently as one turns it. The ...
Angela Cummings Vintage Bracelet 18k Gold Bangle Jewelry
By Angela Cummings
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
A fabulous stylized snake bracelet created by Angela Cummings in 1986. People were always fascinated by snakes and since ancient times that fascination has made snake motif widely used in jewelry. This vintage bracelet is made of 18 karat yellow gold and accented with round brilliant cut diamonds (F-G color, VS clarity, total weight approximately 0.50 carat). The 18k yellow gold bracelet measures 7" x ½” (18 x 1.3 centimeters). This Angela Cummings bangle fits up to 6 ¾-inch/17.5-cm) wrist. The Angela Cummings bracelet weighs 93.5 grams. This Angela Cummings vintage bangle bracelet is stamped with Angela Cummings jewelry...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1984 Angela Cummings Laced Sterling Silver Wide Cuff Bracelet
By Angela Cummings
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Super wide cuff bracelet of solid sterling silver created by Angela Cummings circa 1984. Cuff measures 2 2/4" wide and has an interior wrist circumference measurement of 5 1/8" with...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Bracelet 18 Karat, circa 1984
By Angela Cummings
Located in Litchfield, CT
Circa 1984, 18k, Angela Cummings. This stylish bracelet by Angela Cummings is incredibly wearable and incredibly made. Featuring a motif of draped and wrapped ribbons, this sophistic...
18k Gold
Angela Cummings For Tiffany Sterling Silver Modernist Sculptural Link Bracelet
By Angela Cummings
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning and sculptural vintage sterling silver hallmarked Angela Cummings for Tiffany link bracelet is hard to come by now and more on the rare side. Tiffany no...
Sterling Silver