1980s Yaacov Heller Sterling Silver & Goldplate Sculptural Clip-on Earrings, Pair

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1980s Yaacov Heller Sterling Silver & Goldplate Sculptural Clip-On Earrings

Sculptural 1980s clip-on earrings by Israeli-American artist and silversmith Yaacov … Read more 1980s Yaacov Heller Sterling Silver & Goldplate Sculptural Clip-On Earrings

Sculptural 1980s clip-on earrings by Israeli-American artist and silversmith Yaacov Heller, crafted in sterling silver with contrasting goldplate accents.

The dramatic abstract design is built from overlapping, dimensional planes of silver and gold, creating a wing-like or folded-ribbon form that changes as the earrings are viewed from different angles. The interplay of polished metal, layered construction, and negative space gives the pair a distinctly Modernist character and considerable presence.

Substantial in both scale and construction, the earrings weigh 33.15 grams as a pair—an impressive weight for clip earrings of this type. Despite their bold proportions, the sweeping open design keeps them visually elegant rather than heavy-looking.

Heller began designing jewelry in California in the 1960s before moving to Israel in 1972. A sculptor as well as a jewelry designer and silversmith, he later developed a specialized process for electroforming silver sculpture and jewelry in Israel. That sculptural background is particularly evident in these earrings, where layered metal and negative space transform a relatively small wearable object into a dimensional composition.

Heller's work has ranged from jewelry to large-scale sculpture and important commissioned works, including pieces presented to heads of state. His jewelry of the 1980s frequently combined sterling silver and goldplate, using the contrasting metals to emphasize form and dimension.

Each earring is signed Yaacov Heller and marked 925 for sterling silver.

A distinctive example of Heller's 1980s jewelry and an especially strong choice for a collector of Modernist, sculptural, or artist-designed jewelry.

Creator: Yaacov Heller
Period: 1980s
Materials: Sterling silver, goldplate
Markings: Signed Yaacov Heller; 925
Weight: 33.15 grams total
Style: Modernist / Sculptural
Closure: Clip-on See less