Sterling silver
USA, mid to late 20th century
Stamped ‘COOKE/STERLING’ on back
When clasped dimensions (length): 6 in. (15.2 cm)
Weight: 0.95 ozt
Very good condition

This sleek, handmade necklace by Balitmore jeweler Betty Cooke is simple in design, with three curved bands accentuating the wearer’s neck. The design is attached by rings to the necklace’s ‘strands’, which are similar bands with a hook clasp. The piece is perfect for those who appreciate simple elegance made by the hands of a dedicated and esteemed artisan.

The Betty Cooke necklace is in very good condition with minimal use wear. When clasped, the necklace is 6 in. long.

Betty Cooke (b. 1924)

Baltimore based jeweler Betty Cooke has had a long, successful career creating simple, but very precise jewelry that’s treasured world-wide. She first considered becoming a sculptor, but when opportunities in that medium were limited, she changed course. However, there has always been a sculptural element to her hand-crafted work. Cooke apprenticed with a local jewelry maker who taught her how to solder and encouraged her commitment to simplified design. In the late 1940s, she took her work on the road, camping across with county and trying to sell her jewelry. While on her journey, she happened to stop by the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis as a Modernist jewelry exhibition was being organized. The curators loved her work and included a number of her pieces in the 1948 exhibition ‘Good Design’. The show ultimately launched her career. Since then, Cooke has collaborated with her husband, William Steinmetz, who is an architect. The two share a vision for their craft, creating architectural and clean-cut pieces that are timeless. Now in her early nineties, Cooke is still creating jewelry with the same passion she had when she started. Some of her work can be viewed at the Museum of Modern Art in Boston.