Mildred Lee Ball (1902–1997) was an American experimenter in the field of modern jewelry art. The fame of her creations flourished especially in the mid-20th century — from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s.
Born in Clarksburg, West Virginia, she received her education at the prestigious Columbia University. After marriage, she devoted several years to teaching home economics and handicraft techniques as a school and college teacher.
In the 1940s, her unique creative era began with the creation of original silver items that combined enamel, wood, and natural stones. In February 1959, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she founded her own jewelry business under the brand.
Participated in key national art exhibitions: 1955, 1956, and most notably — in 1959. In 1963, she became one of the pioneers of the Winston-Salem Arts and Crafts Association and co-founded Piedmont Craftsmen, Inc.
Today, Mildred Ball’s works occupy a place of honor in the collections of art connoisseurs – they are recognized as rare and prestigious.
