posted 09-08-2009 07:10 PM            

"Born in New York in 1921, Mr. King was a self taught goldsmith who learned his craft during World War II while working with scrap metal in the Navy. After the War, he returned to New York where he devoted himself to creating fine jewelry and objets de vertu. With support from singer Lena Horne, he established a successful gallery on 59th Street and expanded his business into eighteen shops and outlets, including showrooms in Miami and Havana, as well as in London's luxury emporium, Fortnum & Mason. In 1970, he moved into new headquarters at 619 Madison Avenue and opened a remarkable flagship showroom with cases of molded lead that reflected the organic lines of his signature jewelry designs.

Jewelry by Arthur King celebrates the rich diversity of textures found in nature. Each of his creations is unique. A master of the lost wax gold-casting technique, Mr. King incorporated precious stones and pearls into his designs and showcased them within settings of fantastic golden tendrils. He allowed the materials to inspire the shape of each object and then created an individual work of art.

For his extraordinary achievements in jewelry design, Mr. King was honored by the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York and the Cultured Pearl Association of Japan. He was also chosen to create trophies using natural American materials for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's annual awards for excellence. Among his roster of prominent clients were Mary Hemingway and Claire Booth Luce, who owned a number of his pieces in her renowned collection of fine jewelry. His creations have also been exhibited in such distinguished public institutions as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Goldsmith's Hall International Jewelry Exhibition in London, the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York."

King signed most of his pieces KING or AK and 18K or 14K. They're all very heavy and substantial, and wonderful not only to wear but as objects to heft in your hand.

Here's a group of nine King pieces, including a rare gold box:

Here's the same group with the box opened:

And here's a signed silver cuff: