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David Webb Wearable Art

American, 1925-1975

“Women are tired of jewelry-looking jewelry,” celebrated American designer David Webb once noted. In response, he created a menagerie of whimsical animals rendered as rings, brooches, earrings and, especially, bangle bracelets. This playfulness permeates all Webb’s work, which is characterized by brightly hued enamel and color-saturated semiprecious stones like coral, azurmalachite and turquoise, the notable exception being the clear, elegant rock crystal for which he had an affinity.

The North Carolina native apprenticed with his uncle, a silversmith, before moving to New York, where he established David Webb Inc. in 1948. He had no formal training in jewelry design. Instead, he culled inspiration from the ornamental styles of ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Americas, as well as the traditions of India and China — influences discernible in such pieces as his collar necklaces and talisman-like sautoirs. 

Webb’s first animal bracelet was produced in 1957. His most famous, the zebra, took shape in 1963; its stripes now form the company’s logo. Although Webb died in 1975, his company continues to produce designs drawn from his extensive archives, and every piece is still made in the workshop above its Madison Avenue store.

Find an alluring collection of David Webb jewelry on 1stDibs, including earrings, brooches and other accessories.

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Designer: David Webb
David Webb The Quintessential American Jeweler Hard Cover Book by Ruth Peltason
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David Webb The Quintessential American Jeweler hard cover book by Ruth Peltrason c 2013 The book is an amazing archive of Webb's extraordinary 20th century jewelry designs Webb is be...
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David Webb wearable art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find an extraordinary range of authentic David Webb wearable art available on 1stDibs. On 1stDibs, find haute couture, vintage and designer David Webb wearable art from top boutiques around the world. David Webb wearable art prices can differ depending upon time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $475 and tops out at $475, while the average work can sell for $475.
Questions About David Webb Wearable Art
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    To identify David Webb jewelry, search the piece carefully for a maker's mark. The luxury jewelry maker stamps its pieces with the word "Webb." By comparing your piece to pictures shared on trusted online resources, you can then determine when your piece was produced, find out its name and learn further information. David Webb also offers an authentication service, though there is a fee to use it. Information about how to request an authentication is available on the brand's official website. On 1stDibs, explore an assortment of David Webb jewelry.