Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Robert Lee Morris Wabi Sabi Collection, Large Copper Triple Blade Earrings 1981

$1,850
£1,423.14
€1,651.86
CA$2,608.94
A$2,922.45
CHF 1,534.98
MX$35,536.10
NOK 19,437.84
SEK 18,451.73
DKK 12,328.51

About the Item

One of the superstar pieces of jewelry Robert Lee Morris created for Calvin Klein's fall 1981 runway show. The theme of long blades of grass, in matte 24k gold and ruddy red copper, or darkened brass. These iconic earrings capture the essence of the period, of the 1980's explosion in art design and fashion. Studio 54 had closed and we all moved over to Area Club. Big jewelry was the look for most of the decade. The spectacular Wabi Sabi dark red color is exquisite, and a permanent copper oxide finish. The Blade collection birthed several versions of the handmade blade of grass form, earrings and bangle bracelets in the rich colors of the African Maasai tribal blankets. The jewelry collection won the Coty Award for Morris 1981. Wabi Sabi is the Japanese term that means aged, used, worn, filled with character and spirit through use, old, spirited, and Robert Lee Morris loves it. So much of his jewelry has the Wabi Sabi quality, which is the opposite of glitz and sparkly bling so associated with jewelry in the first place. Morris spent 4 years living in Japan as a child, his father a USAF officer and pilot, and was very inspired by the beauty of traditional Japanese aesthetic and culture. Therefore one can see this exemplified in the colors of the metal and materials he uses; tarnished and oxidized brass, copper bronze and sometimes even darkened silver. The earrings are pure copper, with sterling silver posts.
  • Creator:
  • Metal:
  • Weight:
    1 oz
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 3.24 in (82.3 mm)Width: 1.3 in (33.02 mm)Depth: 1 in (25.4 mm)Diameter: 3.25 in (82.55 mm)Length: 3.25 in (82.55 mm)
  • Style:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1981
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use. These are original earrings directly from the runway of the 1981 Calvin Klein runway show, and are in mint condition with little sign of wear.
  • Seller Location:
    New York, NY
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3141219016372

More From This Seller

View All
Robert Lee Morris Wabi Sabi Collection, 4 Rib Earring for Donna Karan 1988
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
This bold and sculptural clip on earring is an example of the big scale jewelry Robert Lee Morris and Donna Karan created for furnished the runway. These are a warm burnished brass, ...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Brass

Robert Lee Morris Wabi Sabi Collection, Bamboo Disc Earrings 1982
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
These one of a kind gorgeous Wabi Sabi earrings are antiqued brass. large "spinning" discs made of cross hatched woven bamboo strips. Clip ons. Created by castings made from wax impressions of baskets. the coloration in these earrings are like a an old masters dark, murky painting. Exotic and stunning as Robert Lee Morris jewelry...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Brass

Robert Lee Morris for Donna Karan Rose Quartz Tear Drop Earrings
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
Robert Lee Morris made so much gorgeous jewelry for Donna Karan over the years and this is a very rare pair of one of his best. Dramatic, luxurious drop dead statement earrings that ...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Dangle Earrings

Materials

Quartz, Brass, Gold Plate

Robert Lee Morris Matte Gold Plated Wide Arc Dangling Earrings
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
Bold Gold was the massive trend that Robert Lee Morris started in the 1980's and these bold swinging earrings are proof of that. A concave triangular top supports a wide curving tri...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Gold Plate, Brass

Robert Lee Morris Sterling Silver Tusk Earrings
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
In the early 1980's Robert Lee Morris was making dramatic earrings that caused a sensation in the fashion world. These simple graduated "Tusk" earrin...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Sterling Silver

Robert Lee Morris for Donna Karan Golden Egg Drop Earrings
By Robert Lee Morris
Located in New York, NY
In 1989 Robert Lee Morris created a collection of matte gold plated brass jewelry for Donna Karan all in the theme of egg forms. These voluptuous clip earrings are constructed of two...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modern Drop Earrings

Materials

Brass, Gold Plate

You May Also Like

Mid Century Modern Rebajes Flame Pendant Copper Earrings
By Francisco Rebajes
Located in Montreal, QC
Modernist Flame Pendant Copper screw back Earrings, each measuring approx. 1.25” long, signed: REBAJES; by famed Mid-Century Dominican-Manhattan jeweler,...
Category

Vintage 1950s American Modernist More Earrings

Sam Kramer Copper and Sterling Silver Ear Clips
By Sam Kramer
Located in New York, NY
A pair of copper and sterling silver ear clips, by Sam Kramer, United States. Stamped with maker's mark, sterling. Numbered *****6. The earrings measure 1.55" x 1.00" x 0.20" Sam...
Category

20th Century American Artist Clip-on Earrings

Materials

Sterling Silver, Copper

Mid Century Modern Rebajes Comedy and Tragedy Copper Earrings
By Francisco Rebajes
Located in Montreal, QC
Modernist Comedy ‘n Tragedy Copper screw back Earrings, each measuring approx. 1.25” long, signed REBAJES; by famed Mid-Century Dominican-Manhattan jeweler, Francisco Rebajes.
Category

Mid-20th Century Modernist More Earrings

Materials

Copper

CAROLINE STRIEB 1980 Modernist Sculptural Earrings In 18Kt Gold And 925 Sterling
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of modernist sculptural earrings designed by Caroline Strieb & Eric Russell. This is a modernist pair of round earrings designed in Pennsylvania by the silversmith artists Caro...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modernist Stud Earrings

Materials

Gold, Yellow Gold, Silver, Sterling Silver, 18k Gold

Bronze Earrings by Jorma Laine, Turun Hopea, Finland, 1970s
Located in Stockholm, SE
Beautiful bronze earrings by Jorma Laine, in an imaginative, enigmatic design characteristic of Laine’s later work.
Category

Vintage 1970s Finnish Modernist Dangle Earrings

Materials

Bronze

Rena Koopman Sculptural Convertible Drop Earrings in Frosted 18kT Yellow Gold
Located in Miami, FL
Convertible drop earrings designed by Rena Koopman. Beautiful one of a king artist studio pieces, created by the artist goldsmith Rena Koopman. These con...
Category

Vintage 1980s American Modernist Dangle Earrings

Materials

18k Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum