1940s Cuff Bracelets

American Art Smith hand-crafted this modern asymmetrical cuff from roughly finished semi-precious layered metals in his early signature style including sculptural wires and gaps. On the top of the bracelet that displays Smith's dynamic artistry, thick brass square-shaped wires unevenly separate into curves to create voids for revealing skin when worn on the wrist. To both minimally decorate the cuff with geometric shapes and solidify its structure, Smith spanned only one side of the gap with four angular-cut pieces from sheets of sterling silver, copper and brass, which are evenly spaced with narrow gaps. As the rod-like framework of the rest of the cuff, the brass wire was folded/joined at the ends with minute silver soldering only visible on the interior. A testament to Smith's craftsmanship, the contrasting cut metals are soldered precisely to the top outer edges of each sinuous wire instead of wrapped around, which enables the bottom edges of the wires to make smooth contact with the skin and to be easier to flex for pulling on and off. Additionally, Smith finished, lacquered, buffed and polished the exterior bracelet to protect the patinated metallic colors from tarnishing. On the unfinished interior, this cuff may have been signed by Art Smith with a stylized initial A and/or his name in cursive given some apparently linked dark marks in two different areas of the brass wire (see closeups), which may otherwise indicate good condition consistent with age and scratching from wear. In light of similarly constructed curvilinear designs by Smith in the 1940s, the cuff seems to have been created while he was making the transition while living in Manhattan's Greenwich Village from being mentored full-time by fellow Black jewelry designer Winifred Mason...

- Vintage item - 2.5" x 2" - Gold plated - Faux pearl accents - Baguette cut crystals - Fold over clasp closure - By Coro (signed on clasp) - Circa 1940s - Estate acquired -...

Vintage silver bangle hallmarked at the Chester Assay Office in 1945. The bangle is adorned with eight daisies against a reeded pattern backroun...

This amazing detailed vintage sterling silver plus cuff bracelet with the original pin closure dates this Taxco piece to the 1940's. Each segment is linked with 2 circle closures. Th...

This symbolic sterling silver cuff bracelet is signed with lots of hallmarks. It is hallmarked Hencho en Mexico 0925 with initials and symbols. This is an early piece from the 40's o...

This whimsical cuff in the shape of a fish bone is actually very comfortable on. It is reversible and a stunning conversation piece.!

This gorgeous hallmarked mid century sterling silver and turquoise vintage cuff bracelet has dimensional sterling disks in between the 2 rows of turquoise. This is an early piece fro...