Self-taught American jeweler Arthur King worked with baroque pearls, geodes, and raw semi-precious gemstones to create distinctive modernist jewelry during the mid-20th century.
Like many of the accessories that populate our jewelry boxes, the forms of King’s provocative vintage brooches, necklaces, rings and other jewels were inspired by the natural world, but the pieces’ metalwork is sculptural and shapely, resembling gnarled tree branches or the surface of an elm’s aging trunk.
King was born in New Jersey in 1921. He became interested in art at a young age and was fascinated with the lost-wax casting technique practiced by some sculptors. King taught himself the process using scrap metals, and his jewelry and objets d’art would come to share common ground with abstract art in the years to come.
While stationed overseas in the Merchant Marines in World War II, King began to work with metal and dabble in jewelry making, integrating sharks’ teeth, white scrap metal and whatever else he could find into his modest “art jewelry,” a term that has been used to describe adornments created by Alexander Calder, pioneering African American studio jeweler Art Smith, Andrew Grima and others over the years. Upon returning from the war, King continued to develop his skills — eventually opening his first shop in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood.
King truly distinguished himself from other jewelers of the time — at his workbench, he shaped the brass and silver settings for his often unpolished, chunky stones that featured asymmetrical cuts and employed the age-old technique of lost-wax casting, which sees objects cast from wax models. His early pieces mainly featured silver settings, but his popularity soared once he began to craft jewelry in gold.
In 1961, King's work was exhibited at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London as part of the “International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery” and a year later, he opened his flagship store on Madison Avenue. His success allowed him to open more locations in London, Cape Cod, Havana, Miami and elsewhere.
King used a dizzying array of gems and other materials in his unconventional pieces. And as much as the jewelry of the 1960s featured eye-catching candy-colored stones, it was also an era of new textures and freeform gold settings, and King was at the forefront, creating audacious designs that contrasted sharply with the work of the world’s leading luxury houses.
King’s work has been celebrated at a range of institutions over the years including the Museum of Contemporary Crafts (now the Museum of Arts and Design), the Cultured Pearl Association of Japan, the Victoria and Albert Museum and more. His jewelry was exhibited at the Cincinnati Art Museum’s “Simply Brilliant: Artist-Jewelers of the 1960s and 1970s,” which opened in 2021.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Arthur King brooches, rings, necklaces and more.
Vintage Arthur King Baroque Pearl and Diamond 14 Karat Yellow Gold Cuff Bracelet
By Arthur King
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Elegance takes a sculptural form in this vintage Arthur King hinged bangle, a masterful creation in 14 karat yellow gold. The wide cuff features a series of lustrous cultured baroque...
Cultured Pearl, Pearl, White Diamond, Diamond, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold, Gold
Arthur King Silver Amethyst Cuff Bracelet
By Arthur King
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Arthur King was a pioneering American jewelry designer known for his unique and organic approach to jewelry design. His career flourished during the mid-20th century, and his works a...
Amethyst, Silver
Vintage Chanel Extra Wide Black Cuff With Gold Tone CC Logo Designs 2 7/16 inch
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chanel made this dramatic cuff in the mid 1980s. The gold tone CC logos cover the entire cuff over the black plastic background underneath. Open back design for ease of putting on an...
Chanel Black Resin 3 Button Cuff Bracelet 2018 Fall Collection
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This outstanding, chic black resin Chanel cuff makes a big statement. The three gold tone buttons are highlighted with the CC logo in the cente...
Gold Plate
New Kenneth Jay Lane Swarovski Crystal Accented Gold-Tone White Enamel Watch
By Kenneth Jay Lane
Located in Conroe, TX
Kenneth Jay Lane Watch Brand New Swarovski Crystal Accented Gold-Tone White Enamel Watch Gold tone hinged cuff bangle watch Quality and accurate Japanese-quartz movement Durable min...
Rare CHRISTIAN DIOR vintage spirale gold cuff
By Christian Dior
Located in Genève, CH
Superb cuff attributed to Christian Dior from the Gianfranco Ferré collections (Artistic Director of Christian Dior from 1988 to 1994). -It is in golden metal with a hammered effect...
Mixed Metal
Major Chanel Black Resin Cuff with Rhinestones from the 2009 Cruise Collection
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This important Chanel black resin and rhinestone cuff was released as part of the 2009 cruise collection. It is in excellent vintage condition and is simply stunning. What a wonderful item to show off in. It gives new meaning to the phrase "if you've got it flaunt it." Hinged on one side and stays closed with a small, round, hidden magnetic clasp on the inside. This oval shaped cuff fits a small to medium size wrist. Measures 2.13 inches wide (north to south). Marked CHANEL 09C...
Very Showy Large Designer Cadoro Clam Shell With Coral Clamper Cuff Bracelet
By Cadoro
Located in Tustin, CA
A very stately and showy vintage 1980’s Designer Cadoro large clam shell and coral motif dimensional cuff bracelet in rich 24 Karat gold finish with touches of rubbed silver make this bracelet a striking work of art fashion statement! Highly collectible, CADORO examples can be found exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art. Cadoro, or Cadoro Jewels Corporation, was a Manhattan-based jewelry company founded in 1954 by Steven Brody and Daniel Stoenescu (aka Staneskieu), specializing in fashionable costume jewelry sold...
Base Metal, Mixed Metal
$1,200 / item
W 1.75 in L 5 in
Spirit Pond Wide Cuff, sterling silver abstract contemporary, Navajo, Indigenous
By Melanie Yazzie
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Spirit Pond Wide Cuff, sterling silver abstract contemporary, Navajo, Indigenous Melanie A. Yazzie ™: Spirit Pond Cuff cast sterling silver wide cuff bracelet 5” L x 1.75” w 1.25” o...
Sterling Silver, Silver
Meghna Jewels Malachite Resin Cuff worn by Kelly Rutherford in Gossip Girl
By Meghna Jewels
Located in Hoffman Estates, IL
The smooth malachite resin bracelet provides a stunning backdrop for the various shapes of reflective stones, each of which has its own frame of dazzling CZs. Bracelet has a hinged, ...
Crystal, Zircon, Malachite
$1,200 / item
W 1.75 in L 5 in
Spirit Pond Wide Cuff, sterling silver abstract contemporary, Navajo, Indigenous
By Melanie Yazzie
Located in Santa Fe, NM
Spirit Pond Wide Cuff, sterling silver abstract contemporary, Navajo, Indigenous Melanie A. Yazzie ™: Spirit Pond Cuff cast sterling silver wide cuff bracelet 5” L x 1.75” w 1.25” o...
Silver, Sterling Silver
$6,992
W 1.15 in L 8.27 in
Snake Diamonds Rubies Opal Pearl 14 Karat Yellow Gold and Silver Cuff Bracelet
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
This sumptuous serpent bracelet is a true masterpiece of artistic jewelry. Crafted in 14 karat yellow gold and 800 silver, the bracelet skillfully combines prestige and distinctive s...
Diamond, Ruby, Opal, Pearl, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Enamel
$1,900
W 2.13 in Dm 2.25 in
Chanel Bold and Riveting Gold Tone Cuff with Chrome Rivets 2 1/8 In. Wide- 2016
By Chanel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This very stylish Chanel cuff is crafted from satin finish gold tone metal with high polish chrome rivets over it's entire surface. It's a perfect example of chic, contemporary style...
Base Metal
Gucci Gold Tone Turnkey GG Teal Color Embossed Leather Bracelet
By Gucci
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Made in Italy by Gucci, this gold tone turnkey style leather cuff bracelet has never been worn. The bracelet flares from just under 2 inches (1 15/16 inches) at the widest point do...
Arthur King 1970s Organic Gold, Emerald, Pearl and Diamond Bracelet
By Arthur King
Located in Austin, TX
A wonderfully organic 1970's 18k yellow gold, cabochon emerald, south sea baroque pearl, and diamond hinged bangle bracelet by the famed American jeweler, Arthur King (1921 - 1991). ...
Diamond, Emerald, Pearl, 18k Gold, Gold, Yellow Gold