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...
$792Sale Price|20% Off
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...
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...
CoCo Chanel Haute Couture Lion Belt Maison Goossens
By Chanel, Maison Goossens for Chanel
Located in Riverdale, NY
CoCo Chanel early chain belt composed of signature curb chain with classic signature lions head motifs terminating in an adjustable pendant tassel. Coco Chanel synthesizes her favor...
CHROME HEARTS black leather STERLING SILVER CELTIC ROLLER Belt 34
By Chrome Hearts
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Chrome Hearts Celtic Roller belt is crafted from premium black leather and finished with a solid sterling silver Celtic-engraved roller buckle. Showcasing the bra...
CHANEL burgundy & black leather 2020 REVERSIBLE Belt 75
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Chanel reversible belt in black and burgundy leather offers versatile elegance. Featuring a matte silver-tone CC buckle, thi...
RALPH LAUREN midnight blue LIZARD SKINNY Belt S
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Ralph Lauren skinny belt is crafted from exquisite midnight blue lizard leather, offering a sleek and sophisticated accessory for refined styling. Exceptionally v...
CHANEL silver metal 05A CRYSTAL CAMELLIA CHAIN Belt 85 90
By Chanel
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Chanel mesh link belt in silver-tone metal showcases a striking flower motif, encrusted with clear and yellow strass and accented by a central faux pearl. A dangl...
HERMES Ebene brown CROC COLLIER DE CHIEN 50 Belt 77
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Hermès Collier de Chien 50 belt is crafted in Ebene (dark brown) shiny porosus crocodile and finished with gold-plated Médor hardware. A coveted collector's piece...
Hermes Collier de chien leather belt brown gold
By Hermès
Located in 10707, DE
Wunderschönes Vintage-Hundehalsband mit Gürtel aus Leder in der Farbe Gold aus dem Hause Hermès. Modell: Hundehalskette Material: Leder Braune Farbe Größe 70 Vergoldetes Metall 5 Löc...
HERMES Gold Togo Marron Fonce Box REVERSIBLE 32MM H Buckle Belt 85
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Hermès 32mm reversible belt in Gold (camel) Veau Togo leather and Marron Foncé (dark brown) Veau Box leather showcases timeless versatility. Finished with a class...
HERMES Etoupe Epsom black Swift leather GAMMA 24mm Reversible Belt 85
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermes Gamma 24mm reversible belt in Etoupe (taupe) Epsom and black Veau Epsom swift leather with palladium buckle. Has been worn and is in...
Dsquared2 Spring 2005 Top Banana Buckle Belt
By Dsquared2
Located in London, GB
Spring-summer 2005 runway Dsquared2 belt. Big buckle design with "TOP" text and a banana. Thick brown full grain leather belt. Made in Italy. Y2K vintage, 2005. Authenticity gua...
CHRISTIAN DIOR black leather MONTAIGNE BOBBY CD Belt 80
By Christian Dior
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Christian Dior Montaigne Bobby CD waist belt in shiny calfskin featuring signature CD metal buckle with gold finish. Has been w...
Vintage CHANEL Gripoix Flower Mesh Belt
By Chanel, Maison Gripoix for Chanel
Located in Kingersheim, Alsace
Vintage CHANEL Gripoix Flower Mesh Belt Size: Height: 2.04 inches (5.2 cm) Length: 26.77 inches (68 cm) As seen on Carla Bruni in 1996 CHANEL Runway Autumn...
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...
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 ...
Barry Keiselstein Cord Sterling Belt
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
Barry Keiselstein Cord Sterling belt with signature carved buckle and loop in heavy sterling silver on an alligator grain leather belt band. Heavy cas...
Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Silver Frog Buckle & Black Embossed Leather Belt
By Barry Kieselstein-Cord 1
Located in New York, NY
Kieselstein-Cord Sterling Frog Buckle & Black Embossed Leather Belt Color: Black, silver Hardware: Silver Materials: Sterling silver, embossed leather ...