Juggling Chinese brooch. 18 K gold, carved ivory, diamonds, enamel, coral, platinum. 1960s. Donald Claflin fine jewelry
Donald Claflin fine jewelry
Massachusetts-born designer Donald Claflin (1935-1979) entered jewelry history as the creator of many unique artistic designs for the most famous jewelry companies of the time. Among them, in particular, were David Webb, Van Cleef & Arpels, Tiffany & Co and Bulgari.
He graduated from the Parsons School of Design in New York and began his career as a textile designer. However, he soon turned to jewelry making, working for David Webb and then for Van Cleef & Arpels. In 1965 he joined Tiffany & Co. Among his most famous works is the Tanzanite collection, Safari, and Pre-Colombian. Also, series of whimsical figurative brooches based on children’s books – Alice in Wonderland, Humpty Dumpty, Chicken Little and others. From 1977 he worked for Bulgari until his sudden death at the age of 44.
Today, his bright jewelry pieces made of precious metals, gems and multi-colored enamel are highly collectible and sold at the most prestigious auctions.
Dancing walrus brooch. 18 K gold, guilloché enamel, diamonds, ivory tusks, platinum. 19671973 ad
Donald Claflin fine jewelry
Flower earclips. 18 K gold, enamel, coral, turquoise, emeraldFrog brooch. 18 K gold, ruby eye, diamonds, turquoise, platinum, enamelFrog with bow brooch. 18 K gold, diamonds, emerald, enamelHeraldic brooch. 18 K gold, diamonds, yellow sapphire, enamelHumpty Dumpty brooch. 18 K gold, diamonds, enamelKey brooch. 18 K gold, lapis lazuli, carved coral, sapphire, diamonds, emeraldsKingfisher whimsical brooch. 18 K gold, carved coral, diamonds, sapphireMulticolor earrings. 18 K gold, coral, lapis lazuli, turquoise, diamondsNephrite jade and diamond braceletPre-Columbian man brooch. 18 K gold, turquoise, coral, tourmaline. 1967Red and green berry branch brooch. 18 K gold, diamonds, coral, garnetStrawberry bracelet. Gold, diamonds, platinum, coral, enamel. 1968Tribal man brooch. 18 K gold, diamonds, turquoise, tourmaline, coral. 6 cm. 1970sWood and diamond braceletPre-Columbian man brooch. 18 K gold, turquoise, citrine. 1967
