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Arthur King Necklaces

American, 1921-1991

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.

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Creator: Arthur King
1970s Gold Pearl and Diamond Freeform Pendant Brooch
1970s Gold Pearl and Diamond Freeform Pendant Brooch

1970s Gold Pearl and Diamond Freeform Pendant Brooch

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

Brutalist 70s Pendant/brooch in the manner of Arthur King. The large 3 1/4 x 2" 14k tendril-like gold work freeform pendant/brooch with four freshwate...

Category

1970s American Modernist Vintage Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Pearl, Gold, 14k Gold

Arthur King South Sea Baroque Pearl Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch 1970s
Arthur King South Sea Baroque Pearl Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch 1970s

Arthur King South Sea Baroque Pearl Diamond Yellow Gold Brooch 1970s

By Arthur King

Located in New York, NY

A baroque south sea pearl, white and colored diamonds, and 18 karat gold brooch/pendant, by Arthur King, 1970s. Vintage jewelry. This brooch measures 2.56"H x 1.81"W and is signed Ki...

Category

1970s British Baroque Vintage Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Brown Diamond, South Sea Pearl, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Arthur King 18 Karat Gold and Fresh Water Pearl Multi-Strand Necklace
Arthur King 18 Karat Gold and Fresh Water Pearl Multi-Strand Necklace

Arthur King 18 Karat Gold and Fresh Water Pearl Multi-Strand Necklace

By Arthur King

Located in Philadelphia, PA

A beautifully designed Arthur King necklace in 18 karat gold and fresh water pearls. The four strand necklace is strung with fresh water pearls with a slight pink to white hue and s...

Category

20th Century American Modern Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Freshwater Pearl, 18k Gold

Arthur King 18K Yellow Gold MOP and Emerald Natural Seed Pearl Necklace
Arthur King 18K Yellow Gold MOP and Emerald Natural Seed Pearl Necklace

Arthur King 18K Yellow Gold MOP and Emerald Natural Seed Pearl Necklace

By Arthur King

Located in New York, NY

1950' Arthur King multi strand natural seed pearl necklace with 18K yellow gold mother-of pearl and cabochon emerald Clasp Marked: King 18K Approx 20.5 inches long

Category

20th Century American Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Arthur King Turquoise Gold Pendant Brooch
Arthur King Turquoise Gold Pendant Brooch

Arthur King Turquoise Gold Pendant Brooch

By Arthur King

Located in New York, NY

Arthur King turquoise gold pendant brooch, large model Round-cut diamonds of approximately 0.58 carat, three turquoises each measuring approxim...

Category

1970s Vintage Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Turquoise, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

Arthur King Multi-Strand Seed Pearls Mother of Pearl Shell Emerald Necklace
Arthur King Multi-Strand Seed Pearls Mother of Pearl Shell Emerald Necklace

Arthur King Multi-Strand Seed Pearls Mother of Pearl Shell Emerald Necklace

By Arthur King

Located in New York, NY

Arthur King Multi-Strand Seed Pearls Mother of Pearl Shell Emerald Necklace Multiple strands of seed pearls, with mother of pearl shell as a clasp accented by a cabochon emerald (6....

Category

Late 20th Century Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold

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Previously Available Items
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Located in Cincinnati, OH

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Arthur King Brutalist Emerald Diamond Gold Pendant Brooch
Arthur King Brutalist Emerald Diamond Gold Pendant Brooch

Arthur King Brutalist Emerald Diamond Gold Pendant Brooch

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

An attractive emerald and diamond pendant/brooch by Arthur King. The 2 1/4 long 18k yellow gold brooch in an abstract Freeform design with 11 round white diamonds weighing approximat...

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1970s American Vintage Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Diamond, Emerald, 18k Gold

ARTHUR KING, A Gold Pendant, circa 1970
ARTHUR KING, A Gold Pendant, circa 1970

ARTHUR KING, A Gold Pendant, circa 1970

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A handsome yellow gold pendant by Arthur King. The 1 1/4" (with bale) 18k yellow gold textured pendant in the shape a "Star of David". Not to big, easy to wear for a man or a woman. ...

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American Arthur King Necklaces

A Suite of South Sea Pearl Jewelry by Arthur King, c1970
A Suite of South Sea Pearl Jewelry by Arthur King, c1970

A Suite of South Sea Pearl Jewelry by Arthur King, c1970

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

An attractive demi-parure by Arthur King. The 18k yellow gold, diamond and South Sea pearl set consisting of a choker, ring and pair of earrings. Each piece in the free- formed set features a bright white south sea pearl, with very good luster and nacre, the 3/4" earrings with french clip backs support two baroque pearls measuring approximately 11.5 x 12mm each. The ring of similar design with an 11 x 14.4mm pearl and the 16.5" necklace with a 14 x 18.7mm pearl, enhanced by 8 round white diamonds weighing approximately .50cts. A lovely group of jewelry, looks stunning worn together or mix and match at whim. Elegant , Sophisticated and as all of Arthur Kings jewelry...

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American Arthur King Necklaces

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Cultured Pearl

Gold, Colored Diamond and Pearl Pendant/Brooch by Arthur King
Gold, Colored Diamond and Pearl Pendant/Brooch by Arthur King

Gold, Colored Diamond and Pearl Pendant/Brooch by Arthur King

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A sophisticated pendant/brooch by Arthur King. The free-formed 18k yellow gold clip with an 18.7mm x 16.7mm baroque light golden south sea pearl, enhanced with approximately 1.00cts of white, green and yellow diamonds...

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American Arthur King Necklaces

Materials

Diamond

Gold Choker by Arthur King circa 1970
Gold Choker by Arthur King circa 1970

Gold Choker by Arthur King circa 1970

By Arthur King

Located in Cincinnati, OH

A handsome 18k yellow gold necklace by Arthur King. The free-formed gold choker measuring 16" in diameter and tapering 3/8"to 1/2"from back to front. Ten, strategically placed hinges...

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American Arthur King Necklaces

Arthur King necklaces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a range of Arthur King necklaces available on 1stDibs. Each of these unique items was designed with extraordinary care, often using gold. While looking for the most stylish antique or vintage Arthur King jewelry to pair with your ensemble, you’ll find that Arthur King diamond necklaces, from our inventory of 4, can add a particularly distinctive touch to your look. We have 7 pieces in this collection as well as a number of other designs by this jeweler. Modern and Baroque are among the most popular styles of Arthur King necklaces available on 1stDibs. While this collection reflects work that originated over various time periods, most of these items were designed during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider necklaces by Nazarelle, Jacqueline Rabun, and Nolan Miller. Prices for Arthur King necklaces can differ depending upon gemstone, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $3,850 and tops out at $33,600, while pieces like these, on average, can sell for $8,000.