With her playfully bold, nature-inspired pieces, Angela Cummings has left a lasting mark on the world of jewelry design. Full of movement and sensational color, her eye-catching collar necklaces, stud earrings and bracelets continue to be favored by red-carpet celebrities and tastemakers the world over.
Cummings was born in Austria in 1944, during a time when her country was being torn apart by war. At the age of three her family moved to America, where she was raised. Returning to her native country as an adult, Cummings studied art in Perugia, Italy, then went on to study jewelry design in Hanau, West Germany. She graduated with a degree in gemology, goldsmithing and jewelry design from Zeichenakademie in 1967.
Cummings returned to the United States after finishing her studies. She marched into legendary American luxury house Tiffany & Co. in New York City and asked for a job. Under the mentorship of Donald Claflin, a designer who’d previously worked for David Webb, Cummings became a respected in-house designer for the brand. Her named collection, Angela Cummings Exclusively for Tiffany & Co., debuted in 1974.
Cummings created sumptuous 18K gold accessories that were inlaid with coral, opal, mother-of-pearl, jade and lapis lazuli. Not unlike the work of Elsa Peretti, who signed an exclusive contract with Tiffany & Co. in 1974, Cummings’ designs — seashell necklaces, maple leaf pendants — drew on the shapes and forms of the natural world.
As her style continued to develop, Cummings integrated silver, precious gemstones and platinum into her work, creating exquisite juxtapositions by mixing the materials with wood and iron. Her pieces increasingly featured more movement-inspired elements — curling vines, crashing waves and billowing cloud forms — that hearkened to the rhythms of nature.
In 1982, People magazine featured Cummings' jewelry and the publicity launched her into the spotlight. Two years later, she established her own business, Angela Cummings Inc., and began to experiment with abstraction in her work, as well as allowing her surroundings in Japan, where she opened several boutiques, to inspire her adornments.
Cummings retired in 2003, making a brief comeback in 2013 to collaborate with Assael Jewelry, for which she created an exclusive line of cultured pearl jewelry.
Find vintage Angela Cummings earrings, necklaces, brooches and other accessories on 1stDibs.
ANGELA CUMMINGS 1983 Rare Aegean Free-Forms Links Necklace .925 Sterling Silver
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Rare Angela Cummings Sterling Silver Aegean-Link Necklace, New York, 1983. A beautiful and rare necklace created in New York City by the celebrated artist-jeweler Angela Cummings in...
Sterling Silver, Silver
Angela Cummings 18K Yellow Gold Leaf Pendant Necklace with Original Leather Cord
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
An elegant leaf pendant necklace by Angela Cummings, crafted in 18K yellow gold and suspended from its original black leather cord. The pendant is formed as an openwork leaf, with so...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings Large Scribble Brooch – Sterling Silver, Circa 1987
By Angela Cummings
Located in North Miami, FL
Angela Cummings Large Scribble Brooch – Sterling Silver, Circa 1987 This authentic Angela Cummings large Scribble brooch exemplifies the bold creativity of one of the most celebrate...
$3,960Sale Price|20% Off
Angela Cummings 1985 Bean Shaped Pendant Brooch In 18Kt Yellow Gold With Jadeite
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Pendant-brooch designed by Angela Cummings. This a very unusual and rare pendant-brooch created by Angela Cummings, back in the 1985. This piece is very sculptural and has been desi...
Jade, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Betony Vernon "Mantra Necklace" Sterling Silver 925 Necklace
By Betony Vernon
Located in Rome, IT
The "Mantra Necklace" is an original design by Betony Vernon made in 2018 and handcrafted in lost wax elements and a rolo chain. The "Mantra Necklace" ...
Sterling Silver
$320Sale Price|20% Off
Pave Diamond Antler Deer Necklace 925 Sterling Silver Necklace Diamond Necklaces
Located in Chicago, IL
Pave Diamond Antler Deer Necklace 925 Sterling Silver Handmade Fashion Jewelry. Necklace Length : 18th Inch. Main Stone: Diamond . Pave Diamond Antler ...
Diamond, Silver, Sterling Silver
Navajo Sleeping Beauty Turquoise and Sterling Silver Cross Pendant/Brooch
By Navajo
Located in Coeur d Alene, ID
Navajo turquoise and sterling silver cross pendant/brooch. With twelve Sleeping Beauty turquoise beads in sawtooth bezel setting and minimal sterling bead decoration around center. T...
Turquoise, Sterling Silver
$264Sale Price|20% Off
Marquise & Round Cut Moissanite Necklace 925 Sterling Silver 2 Stone Necklace.
Located in Chicago, IL
Marquise & Round Cut Moissanite Necklace 925 Sterling Silver 2 Stone Necklace. Main Stone Moissanite Material 925 Sterling Silver, Gemstone Pendant Size: 11.40mm (0.448 inch...
Sterling Silver
Modern Belgian 18kt Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant
Located in Esch sur Alzette, Esch-sur-Alzette
This Modern Belgian 18kt Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant is a stunning piece of jewelry characterized by its contemporary design and exquisite craftsmanship. Crafted from high-quality 18...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Estate Angela Cummings Bold 18k Gold Diamond Braided Collar Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Santa Barbara, CA
A bold, dramatic and fanciful 18k gold vintage collar necklace signed by noted designer Angela Cummings. Intriguing graduated concentric circles of twisted gold tipped with sparkling...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Agate Leaf 18K Yellow Gold Diamond Pendant
By Valentin Magro
Located in New York, NY
A deep earth toned agate is the focus of this leaf pendant trimmed with brilliant cut diamonds. Agate is carved in the contour of a five-pointed leaf, displaying the translucency of ...
Agate, Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18kt Yellow Gold Australian Opal & Diamond Pendant
Located in San Francisco, CA
If you're looking for an Australian opal with phenomenal play of color, then look no further. This absolutely stunning piece features a natural wavy Australian boulder opal that disp...
Diamond, Opal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage sterling silver 925 green jade pendant necklace
Located in Palos Hills, IL
DETAILS • stamped 925 • sterling silver with green jade • vintage designer pendant MEASUREMENTS • CONDITION • very good vintage condition with minimal signs of wear Sku ...
Jade, Sterling Silver
Angel Pendant Necklace in 18kt Yellow Gold with Yellow Citrine Blue Topaz Gift
By Nicofilimon the Jewelry Designer
Located in Athens, GR
Guardian Angel Pendant Necklace in 18kt Yellow Gold with Round Yellow Citrine and Pear Blue Topaz. The angel is made of 18Kt yellow gol...
Citrine, Blue Topaz, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Emerald Pendant in 18kt Solid Yellow Gold with Chain
By VR Jewels
Located in New York, NY
Elegant Emerald Chain Necklace in 18K Gold studded with round cut emerald. This stunning piece of jewelry instantly elevates a casual look or dressy outfit. Emerald enhances the intellectual capacity. Designed with round cut emerald studded in solid gold making a stunning dainty charm. This beautiful handcrafted necklace is a great piece of jewelry for wedding gift or anniversary gift or graduation gift...
Emerald, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
.925 Sterling Silver 3 Carat Diamond Cross Pendant Necklace
Located in New York, NY
Share your faith with this stunning diamond cross pendant necklace. This cherished cross necklace for her, features 25 natural, round diamonds set in sterling silver. The pendant is suspended from an 18-inch box chain with spring ring. This fine jewelry cross...
Diamond, White Diamond, Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings 18K Yellow Gold Diamond and Pearl Lariat Necklace AC04-051926
By Angela Cummings
Located in Southampton, PA
A sleek, sophisticated design makes this Angela Cummings lariat necklace an elegant addition to any ensemble. The textured 18K Yellow Gold chain features a luminous Pearl, which drop...
Diamond, Pearl, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings 1992 Sterling Silver Vintage Butterfly Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Comprised of pierced stylized butterfly motif links fully around Minimalist with tiered looping wings Completed by concealed hook loop closure Stamped for sterling silver Signed for ...
Sterling Silver
Angela Cummings Honeycomb Brooch – Sterling Silver, Circa 1992
By Angela Cummings
Located in North Miami, FL
Angela Cummings Honeycomb Brooch – Sterling Silver, Circa 1992 This authentic Angela Cummings brooch features the designer’s celebrated “honeycomb” motif, a bold openwork design tha...
Sterling Silver
Sold
H 2.85 in W 1.26 in D 0.28 in L 24 in
ANGELA CUMMINGS 1984 Carnelian Key Necklace In 18Kt Yellow Gold & Pearls
By Angela Cummings
Located in Miami, FL
Necklace with key pendant designed by Angela Cummings. This is beautiful and rare key pendant-chain, created by Angela Cummings, back in the late 1980's. The modernist piece has bee...
Carnelian, Pearl, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings for Assael Diamond Leaf Pendant Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Darnestown, MD
Streamlind pendant necklace of 18 karat gold with diamonds along the veins and stem of the leaf. Angela Cummings often worked with Salvador Assael. Both of their names are stamped on...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings 18 Karat Yellow Gold Onyx and Mother of Pearl 3D Box Pendant
By Angela Cummings
Located in Washington Depot, CT
Vintage Angela Cummings 18 Karat Yellow Gold 3D Box Pendant- This beautifully detailed 18K yellow gold 3D box pendant by Angela Cummings features black onyx an...
Onyx, Pearl, Yellow Gold
Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. 18 Karat Gold Rose Petal Pendant Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Stylish Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Company Rose Petal Pendant Necklace 18k yellow gold rose petal pendant 18k chain not signed Tiffany Circa 1970 Pendant measures 1 1/8" x 1 3/16"...
18k Gold
Angela Cummings Gold and Diamond Leaf Pendant Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Troy, MI
Angela Cummings is known for her passion for nature and the three-dimensional art of sculpture. This pendant design for Assael of New York is stylized 18k yellow gold leaf design nic...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Angela Cummings Gold Leaf Pendant Necklace
By Angela Cummings
Located in Troy, MI
Angela Cummings is known for her passion for nature and the three-dimensional art of sculpture. This pendant design for Assael of New York is a stylized 18k yellow gold leaf design. ...
18k Gold