Designed by Angela Cummings for Tiffany & Co. in the early 1980s, these distinctive earrings combine richly colored lapis lazuli with 18K yellow gold in a composition of remarkable simplicity. Each earring takes the form of a softly domed oval, its smooth lapis surface interrupted by an asymmetrical passage of polished gold that curves inward from the lower edge. The two elements meet along a gently undulating boundary, creating the impression of gold emerging from within the stone rather than merely surrounding it.
The lapis lazuli displays an intense, saturated blue, punctuated by delicate golden flecks of pyrite that introduce subtle variations across its polished surface. Against this deep color, the yellow gold forms a fluid, almost liquid shape, its reflective finish contrasting with the more subdued luster of the stone. The earrings are conceived as mirror images, their complementary compositions creating a sense of balance without relying on conventional symmetry.
Angela Cummings developed a highly individual approach to jewelry during her years at Tiffany & Co., where she worked from 1968 until establishing her independent business in 1984. Her designs frequently drew upon organic patterns, natural textures, and the unexpected relationships between contrasting materials. Rather than treating gemstones as conventional decorative accents, she incorporated them into the very structure of her compositions, allowing stone and metal to share a continuous surface.
These earrings are particularly expressive of that philosophy. The irregular gold forms recall the spontaneous patterns found in nature, while the smooth, rounded silhouettes give the design a distinctly modern character. Their restrained construction places the emphasis entirely on the relationship between color, surface, and contour.
Measuring approximately 0.825 × 0.625 inches and weighing 14.5 grams for the pair, the earrings possess a compact yet substantial presence. Their gently domed profiles lend depth to the composition, while the contrast between the polished gold and intensely colored lapis remains compelling from every angle.
A fragment of midnight blue, its still surface interrupted by a wandering ribbon of gold.
