Arthur King Multi-Strand Seed Pearls Mother of Pearl Shell Emerald Necklace
About the Item
- Creator:
- Metal:
- Stone:
- Stone Cut:
- Weight:52.9 g
- Dimensions:Width: 1.19 in (30 mm)Length: 20.08 in (510 mm)
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1035320293962
Arthur King
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: New York, NY
- Return PolicyThis item cannot be returned.
- Arthur King 18K Yellow Gold MOP and Emerald Natural Seed Pearl NecklaceBy Arthur KingLocated in New York, NY1950' 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 longCategory
20th Century American Multi-Strand Necklaces
Materials18k Gold, Yellow Gold
- Faceted Peridot Bead Gold Multi Strand NecklaceLocated in New York, NY18k gold necklace with 5 strands of faceted peridot gemstones. The center pendant depicts roman soldier. Necklace is 21" long. Pendant is 1.75" x 1.25...Category
20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPeridot, Gold
- Vintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Natural Seed Pearl NecklaceLocated in New York, NYVintage 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Multi Strand Natural Seed Pearl Necklace Marked: 750 18K on the clasp with 55 diamonds approx 17 inches longCategory
20th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsYellow Gold
- Coral Bead Gold Multi Strand NecklaceLocated in New York, NY18k yellow gold coral bead necklace, featuring corals from 4.5mm to 10mm. Necklace is 27" long. Weighs 125.4 grams. Marked 750 on clasp tongue.Category
20th Century More Necklaces
MaterialsCoral, 18k Gold
- Long Triple Strand Pearl, Platinum, Gold and Diamond Fringe SautoirLocated in New York, NYNatural Salt Water Pearls ap. 3.6 to 2.4 mm., old-mine cut diamonds, c. 1905. Length 35 3/8 inches. Pearls: slightly creamy to creamy, some with rose hue, cleanish, round, oval, bel...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Natural Pearl, Gold, Platinum
- 1980s Ruby Emerald Sapphire Diamond Gold NecklaceLocated in New York, NY1980s vintage 18k yellow gold necklace, featuring three gold strands, set with oval emerald, ruby and sapphire cabochons, as well as a total of approximately 2.40ctw G/VS diamonds. N...Category
Vintage 1980s Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold
- Long Multi-Strand Black Bead Mother of Pearl NecklaceLocated in Miami Beach, FLVintage 18-strand black glass bead necklace featuring a large geometric bead with mother-of-pearl sections between two black faceted beads wi...Category
Late 20th Century Beaded Necklaces
MaterialsBase Metal
- Multi-Strand "" Pearl NecklaceLocated in Dallas, TXThis stunning multi-strand pearl tots add necklace is fitted with a 14k Yellow Gold clasp. The necklace weighs in at 88.1 grams and is marked 14k 585Category
21st Century and Contemporary Modern Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, 14k Gold
- Victorian Four Strand Seed Pearl NecklaceLocated in Palm Desert, CAVictorian Four Strand Seed Pearl Necklace. This vintage 18 Karat Rose Gold necklace features four strands of seed pearls. There are twenty-six 2.5m...Category
Antique 1880s Unknown Victorian Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsPearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
- AJD Pink Multi-strand Seed bead NecklaceBy Aria Jewelry DesignLocated in Raleigh, NCGorgeous pink, multi-strand seed bead necklace that looks like a beautiful bib. The 23 strands vary in length from 17 to 35 inches in length. MN2304.Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Artisan Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsOther
- Multi Strand Pearl Choker NecklaceLocated in New York, NYMulti Strand Pearl Choker Necklace A white gold medallion set with round cut diamonds, French cut sapphires, a certified natural yellow brow...Category
Vintage 1970s Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Natural Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
- M2 by Mary Margrill Multi-Strand Sapphire, Diamond & Mother of Pearl NecklaceLocated in Scottsdale, AZThis wonderfully designed multi-chain layered charm necklace by M2 by Mary Margrill is sure to become one of your new favorite pieces. This exquisitely ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary Multi-Strand Necklaces
MaterialsDiamond, Pearl, Sapphire, Gold, Yellow Gold, 14k Gold