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.
Vintage 1981 18k Yellow Gold Angela Cummings Twisted Loupe Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
These vintage 1981 Angela Cummings earrings are a wonderful example of the designer’s sculptural and highly recognizable approach to jewelry, combining bold form with refined gold cr...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Doorknocker Earrings 1988 Vintage Large Drops Silver Jewelry
By Angela Cummings
Located in Torrance, CA
Finely detailed pair of vintage Angela Cummings earrings (circa 1988) crafted in sterling silver. The stylish earrings are crafted in sterling silver. With a light satin finish the...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Tiffany Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Star Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Stamford, CT
Designed for Tiffany Angela Cummings created these five pointed star earrings in silver c. 1975. They have both a post and a clip that slips over the post. Either clip or post can be...
Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Angela Cummings Inlaid Black Jade Yellow Gold Earrings
By Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co.
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Inlaid Black Jade Earrings by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. With Black Jade Inlay. These earrings are for not pierced ears, but they can be converted by adding po...
Black Jade, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Iconic 1984 Sterling Silver Orchid Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
Fine pair of Orchid earrings from Angela Cumming's iconic first collection as an independent designer when she left Tiffany's to establish her own boutique at Bergdorf Goodman in 198...
Sterling Silver
1985 Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Woven Square Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Introducing the exquisite 1985 Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Woven Square Earrings, a stunning piece that embodies timeless elegance and sophistication. Crafted from high-quality s...
Angela Cummings 18K Yellow Gold Black Onyx Twisted Knot Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
These Angela Cummings clip earrings embody the designer’s celebrated fusion of sculptural form and refined minimalism. Crafted in 18K yellow gold, each earring is shaped into an el...
Onyx, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$3,192Sale Price|20% Off
W 0.75 in L 1.25 in
18K Gold Vintage Earrings by Angela Cummings, circa 1989.
By Angela Cummings
Located in Aspen, CO
Angela Cummings, a major designer for Tiffany & Co., has designed these very wearable earrings in 18K yellow gold. These earrings are 1.25 inches long and .75 inches wide. Each earri...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings 18k Yellow Gold Fire Opal, Jade 1986 Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in New York, NY
Experience the exquisite craftsmanship of Angela Cummings with these rare and collectible earrings. Oversized at 1 1/8 inches, they showcase a mesmerizing combination of fire opal, b...
Jade, Opal, Fire Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Angela Cummings Yellow Gold Diamond Vintage Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Feasterville, PA
A timeless pair of Angela Cummings earrings showcasing a cushion shape adorned with 82 of the finest round brilliant cut diamonds in warm 18k yellow gold. The earrings have a diamond...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$5,790 / item
W 0.79 in L 1.42 in
18 Karat Gold Calibre Cut Citrine Baguette Diamond Dangle Doorknocker Earrings
By Vaibhav Dhadda
Located in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Art, color and culture all come together to inspire this signature calibre cut citrine taper baguette with diamond top dangle doorknocker earrings in 18 karat gold, where dégradé (gradient) hues of citrine exudes happiness and optimism while dictating the movement of eye. Meticulous hand-picked selections of 30 lustrous citrines out of many are set individually complimented by pave set diamonds. Each citrine is caliber cut by our expert lapidary artist to meet the design specifications in various sizes of tapered baguettes, enhancing the fire in each gemstone. The pair of earrings features a diamond studded pear shaped top and a suspended pear shape with 8.64 carats of high quality citrine baguettes...
Citrine, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$2,850 / set
H 0.99 in W 0.32 in D 0.6 in
Vintage Tiffany & Co 18K Gold Double Spiral or 'S' Scroll Earrings w Pearl Drops
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of vintage Tiffany & Co. gold & pearl earrings. In 18K gold. In the double spiral or "S" scroll shape with pearl drops. Marked to both the reverse and the ear backs fo...
Pearl, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings 1980 Mother-Of-Pearl 18 Karat Gold Vintage Checkerboard Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Designed as yellow gold tapered cushion shaped forms Displaying a checkerboard motif with mother-of-pearl Inlaid as squares - white body color with iridescence Ranging in size from 5...
Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$1,498 / set
H 1.18 in W 1.02 in
ANGELA CUMMINGS 1991 Perforations Free-Form Earrings Solid .925 Sterling Silver
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Perforations earrings designed by Angela Cummings. These beautiful sculptural clips-on earrings were created in New York City at the studios of Angela Cummings, back in the ...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings 18K and Sleeping Beauty Turquoise Finely Made Earrings, c. 1990
By Angela Cummings
Located in Aspen, CO
Angela Cummings, a major designer for Tiffany & Co. has made a fine pair of 18K and natural turquoise, from the now closed sleeping beauty mines, tassel drop earrings. These earrings...
Turquoise
Sold
W 0.45 in L 1.89 in
Angela Cummings 1991 New York Studios Dangling Earrings 18Kt Gold and Hematite
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
A pair of dangling earrings designed by Angela Cummings. Vintage pieces designed by Angela Cummings at her New York city studio, back in the 1991. They was crafted in solid yellow g...
Hematite, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Curvy Gold and Diamond Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Dallas, TX
Stunning Angela Cummings Yellow Gold and Diamond Earrings. Elegant statement piece with just the right flair.
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Sterling Large Door Knocker Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Earrings, measuring 2 1/4 inch in length and 1 inch wide. Made in two sections so that the bottom moves freely. Having Omega clip backs a...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Biomorphic Large Sterling Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1990 Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Large Biomorphic Earrings, these very cool pieces of wearable art measure 2 inches in length with the bottom section measuring 1 1/8 inch w...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Pearl Diamond Gold Dangle Swirl Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Troy, MI
Swirls of Diamonds flow artfully like rolling waves in these elegant drop earrings, culminating in silvery South Sea cultured pearls. Designed by Angela Cummings of Assael of New Yor...
Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings Sterling Large Drop Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980s Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Earrings, measuring 2 1/4 inch in length and 1 inch wide. Made in two sections so that the bottom moves freely. Having Omega clip backs a...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Large Hematite Yellow Gold Earrings
By Angela Cummings
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Hematite Earrings by Angela Cummings. From 1989. With 2 Oval Hematite stones 16mm x 12mm each. Details: Weight: 22.2 gr...
Hematite, 18k Gold