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
Barry Kieselstein Cord 2004 Sterling Silver & 14k Gold Frog Flower Cuff Bracelet
Located in Honolulu, HI
Barry Kieselstein Cord Cuff Bracelet in sterling silver and14k yellow gold. The bracelet features a 3-D frog in between 2 3-D flowers with 14k yellow gold petals. Hallmarked "Barry Kieselstein Cord" and stamped "2004," "925," "14K," "Thailand," on the inside. This cuff bangle measures 29 mm wide, 58 mm long and weighs 78.5 grams. This is a pre-owned Barry Kieselstein Cord bracelet...
14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Sterling Silver
Handcraft Australian Pearls 14 Karat Gold Diamonds Coral Onyx Cuff Bracelet
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
The Scala Gioielli & Figli is pleased to announce to all its customers who purchase outside the European Community an additional 10% discount from the list price on all its items. Th...
Coral, Onyx, Pearl, Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
White Diamond Teeth Cuff Memento Mori Open Bangle Bracelet J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Teeth Cuff Bracelet White Diamond Black Enamel 14k Gold Plated Memento Mori Open Bangle Designer: J DAUPHIN The Teeth Cuff is a rigid open band in 14k gold plated brass, the band f...
White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass
Diamond Bracelet Cuff Antique Diamond Setting Prongs Silver Open Bangle
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Diamond Cuff Bracelet Victorian Prong Setting Gold Plated Silver Detail Thin Bangle Designer: J DAUPHIN The Diamond Cuff is a thin rigid open band in gold plated brass with silver ...
Diamond, White Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver, Gold Plate
Handcrafted 14 Karat Yellow Gold Cuff Bracelet
By I. Reiss
Located in Great Neck, NY
14 Karat Yellow Gold Hand-Crafted Matte and Hammer-Finished 14mm Scallop-Edged Cuff Bracelet, Enhanced with 1.54 Carats of Pave Set Diamonds.
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Black Diamond Cuff Brutalist Stud Barcelet Blue Enamel Gold Plated J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Black Diamond Cuff Brutalist Stud Bracelet Midnight Blue Enamel 14k Gold Plated Eight Pointed Star Designer: J DAUPHIN The Star Stud Cuff is a rigid open band in 14k gold plated ...
Black Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
$9,995
W 0.37 in Dm 2.29 in L 3.04 in
GIA Natural Jadeite Jade Pale Green & Brown Hinged Bangle 14K Gold
Located in Honolulu, HI
GIA Natural Jadeite Jade Pale Green & Brown Hinged Bangle 14K Gold. Comes with GIA report #2235035266. A magnificent jade bangle with beautifully engraved hinge and clasp. The Jade has a very pleasant pale green with a brownish patch that creates a gorgeous contrast with the yellow gold hinge & clasp. The jade is translucent and has a beautiful natural look. The 14k yellow gold hinge and clasp are hand-engraved in botanical floral design. The clasp is equipped with a safety chain for added security. The inside diameter of the bangle is 58mm and would fit wrist size up to 53 mm. The bracelet is 9.37mm thick. The total weight is 55.9 grams. This is a vintage pre-owned Jade bangle in very good condition. Please ask any questions before bidding, serious buyers only please. Bracelet Specification: Style: Hinged jade Bangle...
Jade, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold
Black Enamel Bangle Bracelet Emerald Diamond J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
J Dauphin Emerald Heart Bangle 14k Gold-Plated Black Enamel Size Small/ Medium A sculptural 14k gold-plated brass hinged bangle featuring a central heart-shaped natural emerald pai...
Diamond, Emerald, Gold Plate, Brass, Enamel
John Hardy Classic Chain Bracelet with Black Sapphire in Sterling Silver
By John Hardy
Located in Honolulu, HI
Item Specifications: Brand: John Hardy Metal: Sterling Silver Metal Purity: AG 925 Bracelet Width: 6.45 mm wide Bracelet Length: 7.5" Gemstone: Black S...
Sapphire, Sterling Silver
Black Enamel Cuff Bracelet White Diamond 14k Gold Plated Fleur de Lis J Dauphin
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fleur de Lis Cuff Bracelet Black Enamel White Diamond 14k Gold Plated Designer J DAUPHIN The Fleur de Lis Architectural Cuff is a symbolic sculptural piece by J DAUPHIN drawing in...
Diamond, White Diamond, 14k Gold, Gold Plate, Enamel
Handcraft Pearls 9 Karat Yellow Gold Diamonds Cuff Bracelet
By SCALA GIOIELLI
Located in Marcianise, IT
9 karat yellow gold cuff bracelet. Handmade by our craftsmen and assembled with old cut diamonds and pearls. Bracelet size 19.5 cm (length) 2.70 cm (width) Diamonds weight 0.43 kara...
Diamond, Pearl, 9k Gold, Yellow Gold
Dove Cuff Bracelet Bleeding Heart Ruby Gold Plated Brass Silver
By J DAUPHIN
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natural Ruby Dove Cuff Bracelet Gold Plated Brass and Sterling Silver Designer J DAUPHIN The Billet of Myself Cuff is a symbolic sculptural piece by J DAUPHIN featuring a pair of do...
Ruby, Gold Plate, Silver, Sterling Silver, Brass
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