Gerald Stinn is a designer inextricably linked with the creation of mid-century modernist jewelry. He created high-quality silver jewelry in his studio in Santa Maria, California.
He was born on April 22, 1937, in Urbandale, Iowa. He studied jewelry making, crafts, and design at Drake University (Iowa). He then taught jewelry and design in public schools and at the Des Moines Art Center. In 1965, he moved to California, where he shared his knowledge with students for five years. He then focused entirely on his creative work, designing and making jewelry. He passed away on December 30, 2019, at the age of eighty-two.
In his work, Gerald Stinn combined sterling silver with natural materials such as turquoise, onyx, moonstone, pearls, and dark ebony.
Today, his jewelry is sought after by collectors.
The designer’s work can be seen in the Smithsonian American Art Museum. For example, it houses a necklace he created in 1975, crafted from silver, ebony, cocobolo, vermillion, and cord.
