I’ve been just chewing at the bit to do a piece on Arthur King and the artisinal quality of the jewels he brought to fruition.  Now, prior to one year ago, I had no idea of Arthur King’s existence (except in storybooks, of course) and I found out because I was gifted a piece from his collection, a gorgeous molten gold ring with a black Baroque pearl centerpiece, circa late 60s, early 70s.  It was an estate auction find.  I was smitten immediately; it was unlike anything I had ever seen before.  The signature inside the ring was how we devised who the creator was.  

Now, of course with the advent of the internet, I went trolling around, and low-and-behold, I learned all about this wonderful jeweler.  King was a goldsmith in the late 60s and early 70s.  He devised a wax casting technique which gave the gold its unique, organic shapes.  He really brought this style into vogue at a time when jewelry was much more structured and uniform.  King certainly had his influence, but his name has been lost a bit with time.  He had stores around the world- Paris, New York, London, Havana, Miami. These shops no longer exist, but his legacy is certain to live on…. at least for those who know 🙂

“The merit of originality is not novelty; it is sincerity.”
–Thomas Carlyle

Photos Courtesy of 1st dibs, Kimberly Klosterman Jewelry, JMC Charleston, Christie’s