CARTIER 1971 Aldo Cipullo Door Knocker Earrings I 1n Solid 18Kt Yellow Gold
Pair of door knocker’s earrings designed by Aldo Cipullo (1936-1984) for Cartier.
This rare pair of rectangular door-knocker clip earrings was created in New York City in 1971 for the house of Cartier by the celebrated jewelry designer Aldo Cipullo. The design is executed in solid 18 karat yellow gold with a highly polished mirror finish, emphasizing Cipullo’s signature architectural clarity and bold modernist geometry. The earrings are conceived in a strong rectangular door-knocker form, combining sculptural presence with refined proportion and wearable balance.
They are fitted at the reverse with gold posts for pierced ears, together with hinged French omega backs, ensuring both stability and comfort when worn as clip-style earrings. This dual system reflects the transitional design approach of the early 1970s, when pierced and non-pierced configurations were often integrated into a single high-jewelry construction.
This model is documented and illustrated on page 90 of Cipullo, authored by Renato Cipullo and Vivienne Becker, confirming its place within the designer’s most recognizable body of work. Overall, the piece stands as a rare and highly collectible example of Cipullo’s sculptural language at Cartier, merging bold graphic form with practical engineering typical of his New York–era creations.
Country: New York City, United States.
Period: Modernist, 19701-1972.
Designer: Aldo Cipullo for Cartier.
Material: Solid 18Kt Yellow Gold.
Weight: 43.60 grams (28.60 Dwt).
Measurements: 37 mm by 38 mm by 11 mm (1.46 x 1.50 x 0.43 inches).
Hallmarks: They are both stamped at the bottom on reverse with the maker's mark, the mark for the assay and warranty of the .750/.999 gold, the plaque of Cartier, the name of designer and signed in full as follows, "A. CIPULLO 1971 CARTIER 18KT ".
Aldo Cipullo
He was an Italian born jeweler. He born and was raised in a family of designers with jewelry traditions, his father was the owner of a jewelry factory and his brother Renato Cipullo made jewelry designs for Christian Dior. Aldo, was the creator of the popular and iconic Cartier bracelets, love and the nail, still until today considered ones of the best designs of the 20th century. He works as a designer in New York, for David Webb (1960-1969) and Cartier (1969-1975). In 1975 he found his own company as a freelance designer.
Literature: Renato Cipullo and Vivienne Becker, Cipullo Making Jewelry Modern, Assouline 2021, Pp-90 for a similar examples illustrated.
Collateral: These Cartier earrings by Aldo Cipullo are accompanied by a presentation jewelry box.
Condition: The overall condition of these Cartier earrings by Aldo Cipullo are excellent. Beside the little normal wear there is no damage to the gold. This pair has been carefully inspected to guarantee the condition and authenticity.
INVENTORY REF: E070626OENM/1.072
