In the mid-1950s, there were children who read comic books and built forts and then there was Barry Kieselstein-Cord, a now-critically acclaimed New York City–born jewelry designer whose early hobbies included carving totem poles.
In fact, Kieselstein-Cord was proficient at carving by the time he was eight years old. His hobby fueled what would become deep interests in Native American art and in the natural world around him. Kieselstein-Cord made more carvings, and eventually began to explore metalwork and craft jewelry in his teens. Today he creates rings, necklaces and other jewelry and accessories so divine that they are as much wearable sculptures as they are personal adornment.
Kieselstein-Cord studied at Parsons School of Design and the American Craft Institute. He has long been enamored of illustration, architecture, photography and other disciplines, and even as a world-renowned jeweler, Kieselstein-Cord has always considered his true identity as a sculptor. ”I don’t make jewelry; I do sculptures for the body,” he has said.
Kieselstein-Cord designed his first sterling silver collection in 1972, and a year later, the collection was presented for sale at Georg Jensen’s Manhattan flagship store. Kieselstein-Cord’s partnership with the legendary Danish silverware firm meant that his work would reach an international audience. It was also around this time that the designer began to work with fashion titans Perry Ellis and Calvin Klein.
By the late 1970s, Kieselstein-Cord had begun to integrate gold and gemstones into his work. During this decade he designed much-lauded belt buckles, and some of his most sought-after collections — including Crocodile, Pompeii and Borgia — followed a decade later. On today’s secondary market, those 1980s-era designs are enjoying a resurgence. Names like Henry Dunay and Kieselstein-Cord are being reappraised as icons of contemporary design.
Tom Hanks, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Elton John, Jack Nicholson, Barack Obama and Giorgio Armani are all known collectors of Kieselstein-Cord’s work. His designs have found their way into the Louvre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
On 1stDibs find a collection of vintage Barry Kieselstein-Cord belts, earrings, bracelets, handbags and other jewelry and accessories.
Barry Kieselstein Cord Sterling Silver Alligator Belt Buckle
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Wallkill, NY
Vintage B. Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Silver Alligator Belt Buckle – Iconic Designer Statement Own a piece of wearable art with this vintage Kieselstein-Cord sterling silver belt buck...
Barry Kieselstein Cord Sterling Silver Belt Buckle Frog Toad
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Wallkill, NY
Vintage B. Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Silver Frog Belt Buckle – Iconic Designer Statement Own a piece of wearable art with this vintage Kieselstein-Cord sterling silver belt buckle, f...
Barry Kieselstein Cord Lizard Skin Pink & Purple Belt W/ Sterling Silver Belt
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Barry Kieselstein Cord Lizard Skin Pink & Purple Belt W/ Sterling Silver Belt Bands. In excellent condition Measurements: Longest length - 3...
Barry Kieselstein Cord Vintage Black Moon Charm Sunglasses
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Barry Kieselstein Cord Vintage Black Moon Charm Sunglasses in excellent condition. Black acrylic body with black lenses trimmed with matte silver hardware upon each arm. Unique Moon ...
Kieselstein Cord Huge Tortoise Shell & Embossed Croc Calfskin Sunglasses
By KIESELSTEIN-CORD, Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
Kieselstein Cord wonderfully elegant huge tortoise shell lucite frame is detailed with embossed croc calfskin arms, and finished with their signature name plated with their c...
$485Sale Price|29% Off
Kieselstein Cord Shades of Olive Green "The Saint" Tortoise Frame Eyeglasses
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1, KIESELSTEIN-CORD
Located in New York, NY
Kieselstein Cord "The Staint" tortoise frame in shades of olive greens are accented with "The Sun & The Moon" in gilded 18k plated gold hardware inserted with...
Vintage Barry Kieselstein Cord Sterling Silver Duck Buckle, Green and Red Belt
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Product details: Featuring circa 1981, sterling silver duck buckle with interchangeable and adjustable animal skin green and red belt straps. All...
Orciani Brown leather vintage belt
By orciani
Located in Capri, IT
Orciani Brown leather vintage belt Totally made in italy in italian size range 75
A pair of Vintage 1970s Sunglasses by Charme
By charme
Located in London, GB
A chic pair of 1970s sunglasses by Charme. These sunglasses have an animal print frame and are model 70/74N , col 510.
Navy Hermes Skinny Leather Belt
By Hermès
Located in New York, NY
Navy skinny leather belt by Hermes. Silver-tone lock buckle closure. 0.5" width, 32" length.
Vintage CHANEL Chocolate Bar Turnlock Leather Belt Silver Hardware
By Chanel
Located in Bangkok, TH
This vintage Chanel chocolate bar belt is crafted of lambskin leather in square quilted pattern featuring a black enameled silver toned CC turnlock. Stamped Chanel 02P made in Italy....
Gucci by Tom Ford S/S 1996 Oversized Silver Metal G Logo Buckle Suede Belt
By Gucci, Tom Ford for Gucci
Located in BELLEVUE HILL, NSW
Dating to the Tom Ford designed S/S 1996 collection, iterations of this belt appeared on the runway on supermodel Linda Evangelista, in the campaign for the season & modelled by Kate...
Hermès 18mm Reversible Black x Brown x Gold H Logo Thin Belt Kit 930h17
By Hermès
Located in Dix hills, NY
Date Code/Serial Number: A in a Square Made In: France Measurements: Length: 33.5" Width: .1" Height: .75" OVERALL GOOD+ CONDITION ( 7.25/10 or B+ ) Waist Circumference in Inch...
PRADA black leather 2019 FLORAL EMBROIDERED Belt 80
By Prada
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Prada waist belt in black leather with tonal floral embroidery. Features a refined, structured silhouette designed to cinch the waist with understated elegance, showca...
Vintage funky red sunglasses - Made in France - 1990 - BOZ
Located in Paris, FR
Boz Vintage Glasses – 1990s Step into the vibrant and creative spirit of the 1990s with this Boz frame, an iconic French brand celebrated for its boldness and artisanal craftsmanshi...
Chanel Polarized Ski Goggles
By Chanel
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld Polarized Ski Goggle Ski Collection features polarized double-lens with rubber trim and antifog, foam layered interior & bottom perforated slits, adjustable ...
$288Sale Price|20% Off
VERSACE $1200 La Medusa gold buckle black scaled leather belt 80cm 30-34"
By Versace, Donatella Versace
Located in Hong Kong, NT
VERSACE $1200 La Medusa gold buckle black scaled leather belt 80cm 30-34" Reference: TGAS/C00528 Brand: Versace Designer: Donatella Versace Model: DCU4140 DFCG D41OH Collection: La M...
Vintage Midcentury Black & White Stripes Oval Sunglasses 1960 Made in France
Located in Baleares, Baleares
Vintage Black & White Striped Oval Sunglasses Sporting Grey Lenses Made In France. This Item Show Minor Sign Of Wear On Frame And Lenses Due To Storage. Front ...
Hermes Brown Box Leather Belt
By Hermès
Located in Paris, FR
Gorgeous brown lamb box leather Hermès belt featuring plated gold hook buckle, and plated gold details, and an inside gold tone HERMES Paris stamp Length:...
BARRY KISELSTEIN-CORD Nude Alligator Belt Goldtone Sterling Frog Buckle Large
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage Barry Kiselstein-Cord belt is composed of a nude alligator with gold-tone sterling silver hardware. Features a frog buckle with adjustabl...
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Heart Buckle and Black Lizard Belt Never Worn
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New Hope, PA
This sterling silver buckle, a heart pierced through by Cupid's Arrow, is perfect for all you romantics, and would be romantics. The buckle is fully marked on the back, and the bla...
Vintage BARRY KIESELSTEIN-CORD 1995 Size 2 Brown Leather Sterling Alligator Belt
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in San Francisco, CA
Vintage BARRY KIESELSTEIN-CORD 1995 belt comes in a brown alligator leather featuring a sterling silver alligator buckle. Very Good Pre-Owned Condit...
1990s Barry Kieselstein Cord Alligator Purple + Silver Chrome Vintage Sunglasses
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in San Diego, CA
Rare and chic late 90s BARRY KIESELSTEIN CORD purple and matte silver oblong / rectangle novelty rimless sunglasses! The hinge of each side of the frames feature the brand’s signatur...
Vintage Barry Kieselstein-Cord Wide Sun Buckle Silver Tone
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
The winking sun buckle is one of Kieselstein-Cord's early designs and one of the most popular. This vintage wide sun belt buckle comes in silver tone hardware...
Vintage Barry Kieselstein Cord Wide Buckle Black Leather Slim Belt Silver Tone
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
Vintage wide fancy buckle with a leather belt is one of Kieselstein-Cord's early and popular designs. This vintage wide fancy buckle with leaves design comes in silver tone hardware ...
Barry Kieselstein Cord Wide Buckle Black Leather Slim Belt Gold Tone
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
The wide fancy buckle with a leather belt is one of Kieselstein-Cord's early and popular designs. This vintage wide fancy buckle comes in gold tone hardware with a slim black leather...
Vintage Barry Kieselstein-Cord Wide Sun Buckle Brown Leather Belt Gold Tone
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
The winking sun buckle with a brown leather belt is one of Kieselstein-Cord's early designs and one of the most popular. This vintage wide sun belt buckle c...
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Black Sterling Silver Alligator Buckle On Lizard Strap
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Dix hills, NY
Date Code/Serial Number: 1192000 Made In: New York Measurements: Length: 33" Width: 1" Height: " Belt Strap Measurements: Adjustable 26"-30" OVERALL GOOD VINTAGE CONDITION (6...
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Silver Sun & Moon Brown Alligator Belt c 1990
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in University City, MO
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Sterling silver moon & sun sleek brown alligator belt c 1990 The stylish belt is designed with a chunky large-scale sterling silver buckle The celestial buckle...
Barry Kieselstein Cord Sterling Silver Turtle Buckle & Belt, 1996
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Atlanta, GA
Buckle?...Sculpture?...Jewelry? How about all three! Barry Kieselstein-Cord describes himself as an artist and refers to his work as sculpture. This charming sterling silver turtl...
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Black Belt W/ Gold Buckle
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Barry Kieselstein-Cord Black Belt W/ Gold Buckle. Vintage belt from 1990s in excellent condition Measurements: Longest length - 32.1 inches Smallest length - 28.2 inches Height ...