A precious setting dedicated to creativity
Transcription
A precious setting dedicated to creativity
A precious setting dedicated to creativity and to talented jewellery designers. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 PARIS — FRANCE contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Phone: +33 (0)1 58 62 25 86 Opening hours: Monday: 12.30 - 7.30 Tuesday to Saturday: 11.30 - 7.30 White Bird presents in their purest shape rare and refined jewellery pieces, often one-off limited editions, and brings to light designers and craftsmen represented in their most accurate style. From all over the world, those designers, women to the great majority, are noted for their independance as much in their style as in their development. Precious in their essence, their jewellery plays the luxury card without showiness and remain affordable. White Bird is a place for transmission, a precious setting where amateurs and collectors can freely and with equanimity look into each designer’s own world and privacy. The boutique executed in close collaboration with Austrian architect Günther Domenig, manages to exude neither the coolness of a contemporary art gallery nor the hushed and stifling atmosphere of the classic jewellery store. Each jewel is enhanced by a unique surrounding mixing second-hand furniture and raw materials, natural cane bird-cages and crystal clear glass cubes. Press office: FAVORI 233 rue Saint-Honoré 75001 PARIS — FRANCE jaoven@favoriparis.com Phone: +33 (0)1 42 71 20 46 A self-taught jeweller, Stéphanie Roger began twenty years ago in the finest jewellers’ maisons in the renowned Place Vendôme. She worked in marketing and retail with Cartier, Piaget and Chaumet. Stéphanie then managed the business of Dinh Van from 1998 until 2005. Her deepest wish is to be as close as possible to the designers and the act of creation and to explore the potential of the jeweller’s craft. With the feel of an atelier and a selection firmly grounded in her own taste and experience, Stéphanie opened WHITE bIRD as her own special place at the end of 2010. White Bird is a short, rewarding walk from the Place Vendôme but many figurative miles from a traditional jewellery shop. STÉPHANIE ROGER White Bird displays the work of Alexandra Jefford, Arielle de Pinto, Brooke Gregson, Cathy Waterman, Dezso, Dorette, Hirondelle, Honorine Jewels, Ileana Makri, Jacqueline Rabun, Jean Grisoni, Karen Liberman, Lena Skadegard, Lia di Gregorio, Lito, Loquetlondon, Naohiko Noguchi, Natasha Collis, Noor Fares, Philippa Holland, Pippa Small, Polly Wales, Sia Taylor, Sophie Bille Brahe and Tenthousandthings. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Alexandra Jefford was born and raised in Geneva and lives in London. She studied fine art at Central St Martins, concentrating on etching and drawing. She first pursued a career as an artist and illustrator then began designing jewellery in 2002. She was commissioned by the V&A to design a piece for the museum based on their Japanese Collection in 2005 and was one of four top British designers to be showcased at International Jewellery London in 2005. She has also exhibited at White Cube gallery, London in 2006 and Perimeter Gallery (Paris) in 2008. A selection of her jewellery is presented permanently in the Rei Kawabuko’s famous concept store Dover Street and the artist Damien Hirst’s new venture Other Criteria, both in London. In Los Angeles she is represented by Roseark. Her jewellery has been featured in many publications including US and UK Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Wallpaper, The New York Times and the Times. ALEXANDRA JEFFORD Alexandra Jefford’s approach to jewellery is inspired by her passion for modern art and design. This gives her creations a unique edge, making her jewellery pieces not only beautiful and seductive ornaments but also objects with a conceptual and formal interest for collectors in the Art and Design world. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Arielle de Pinto was born in Toronto. She works between Montreal and New York. While studying print and fabric work at Concordia University she found some spools of chain and couldn’t put them down. She eventually discovered a way to turn the chain into fabric, and realized the technique could be endlessly manipulated, without compromising the weighted, nearly liquid quality of the work. In 2007, she launched her namesake line, establishing her timeless shapes and signature aesthetic, each distinctive silhouette an interpretation of iconic jewellery. She has since been presenting seasonal themed collections, complex garments, accessories, masks, and tapestries. The unique crochet technique gave de Pinto no option to draw from the pre-fabricated offerings of the existing jewellery industry, so she spent years hand developing all her hardware, and consulting experienced artisans to create a seamless body of work. The collections are clearly yet subtly branded, assuring quality of hand work and materials. She personally trained a small team of crocheters that work out of her montreal studio. Arielle de Pinto De Pinto’s work is regularly featured in publications such as Dazed and Confused, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, i-D, Self Service, and many others. She has been featured in industry publications and contemporary jewelry books and exhibited by international museums and galleries. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Brooke was born and raised in Los Angeles, but currently resides in London and works both from her studio in Notting Hill and in LA. Brooke’s love of jewellery was inspired by her father’s vast collection of fine jewellery and her passion and fascination with fine metals and precious stones. Through Brooke’s study of jewellery design, textile design, geology and astrology her collection began to emerge. The Astrology and Planetary collections are what Brooke is best known for. She recreated the constellations with diamonds onto a gold uneven texture that mimics the surface of the moon. Every necklace is cast by hand and unique. Gregson’s admiration for artists such as Alexander Calder and the quilters of Gee’s Bend, a rural community in Alabama, inspired both her Calder and Silk Collections. The Calder influence is evident in mobile-inspired necklaces, and the colors of the Gee’s Bend quilts evoked in her silk-wrapped bracelets and necklaces with diamonds. Brooke’s original creations are highly respected in the world of fine, contemporary jewellery in both the United States and Europe. BROOKE GREGSON As a consummate artist, Brooke is continually creating new pieces, experimenting with different organic material combinations, as well as working on her one-of-a-kind pieces. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com A native Californian and mother of three, Cathy Waterman designs and crafts magnificent artisanal jewellery in her Los Angeles studio. Her passion for stones and jewellery dates to the early 1990s, following a rich career as a lawyer in movie production. Cathy’s meticulously crafted, intricate pieces draw inspiration from nature and fairytales. She makes rings with natural and romantic motifs such as branches, and oak leaves. Each season she also creates fantastical earrings and necklaces. With a penchant for its warm tone, Cathy Waterman works primarily in 22 carat gold and enhances her pieces with platinum, diamonds, and other precious stones and materials chosen for their singularity and originality. Lauded in the American press and distributed by sophisticated department stores including Barney’s, Cathy’s designs are seducing collectors worldwide. Her following includes celebrities and movie stars and in 2012 Charlize Theron wore her jewelry in Ruppert Sander’s film “Snow White and the Huntsman”. WHITE bIRD is proud to be her first stockist in Europe. CATHY WATERMAN 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Sara Beltran started her fashion career in New York as a stylist. After twelve years of living in New York, the artist now calls Jaïpur home. Her childhood romance with beach life and seashells always lingered in the back of her mind, and literally, on the shell necklace she handmade for fun. The line called Dezso, Latin for «Desire» and her love for the ocean continues to emerge in her latest pieces. She travels to different beaches around the world for constant inspiration. A lot of her pieces are shells that she picks from the ocean and then makes a mold and then casts in 18 carats gold, mostly pink gold. She loves using raw material as polki diamonds, kyanites stones, fossilized shark teeth and fossilized shells. Now being in Jaipur, she has discovered a whole new world in stones, as she is doing her own carved stones in shape of shells. Colors are always inspired by the ocean and by special moments in her life. Its known that surfers use shark tooth for protection when going in the water. Dezso 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Catherine Lévy, who created Dorette, was born in Paris where she has lived and worked ever since. At a very young age, she would make jewellery from what was close at hand: chick peas from the kitchen, pebbles extracted from the gravel, rabbit poo she’d collect from the mountains, or snail shells (that also came from the kitchen). These tendencies naturally directed her to Les Ateliers (l’Ecole nationale supérieure de la creation industrielle), where she studied design. She then joined forces with Sigolène Prébois to create objects for homes, signed Tsé & Tsé associées. Their vases, garlands, plates and bowls have been successful all over the world for twenty years. Catherine has always travelled extensively, especially to India. Dazzled by the profusion and the beauty of jewellery worn in the streets of the cities and villages, she dreamed of models mixing Indian techniques and traditional forms from French provinces, and imagined large hoop earrings, ancient wedding rings, seven-band bracelets, grigris and nose rings. She searched for, and found, precious and semi-precious stones, coarsely cut, that she chose for their colours and forms rather than for their value. The first pieces made in Indian workshops delighted her so much that the pleasure she felt wearing them must have been contagious, because they aroused other people’s admiration and desire. Dorette Dorette jewellery never weighs heavily on fingers, never scratches necks or pulls on ears… The multi-coloured stones, both modest and precious, brut diamonds and glass set in gold and silver, diffuse a singular murmur and are always cheerful company. Each one is different, neither ancient nor modern, they are light objects that inspire pleasure, wit and affection. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com It was when finding a forgotten treasure, a ring that had once belonged to her grandmother, that Mayumi Hirooka’s wish to give new life to the turn of the century jewellery emerged. The gold and diamond ring that used to be worn by her grandmother is the very starting-point for Mayumi’s brand Hirondelle, which looks into the past with curiosity and delight. Its universe is further enriched by her taste for antique objects, old flacons and vintage perfume flasks. Its delicate hammered rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings in casted gold are fitted with diamonds. As with a dear object that passes on from generation to generation, a piece of Hirondelle jewellery is meant to be worn, kept and transmitted. Mayumi works in her atelier in Osaka where she maintains a family atmosphere. Hirondelle 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Honorine Jewels was founded by Fanny Boucher, a French designer based in India. A plan to study literature initially brought her to India in 2005, however, a few months after arriving, Fanny moved to Jaïpur, abandoning her pursuit of literature to work at the legendary Gem Palace. After acquiring several years of experience and studying stones at the Gemological Institute of America, Fanny launched her own jewellery line in 2000. Made entirely by hand and featuring stones personally selected by Fanny and recut to her specifications, Honorine Jewels draws inspiration from art, history, and architecture. Each piece tells a story, perhaps that of the book that inspired its creation or a narrative about the woman Fanny imagines wearing it. “Precious jewellery is something magical. It is the only object that appreciates with time,” she asserts. Fanny recently settled in Bombay and currently resides between there and Paris. HONORINE JEWELS 38, rue du Mont Thabor - 75001 Paris / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Ileana Makri was born and lives in Greece. A globetrotter at heart, she travels extensively for inspiration and spends a lot of time in London, Paris and New York, cities she has previously lived in. Originally obtaining a degree in Business Administration Ileana then went on to follow her true passion and studied jewellery design at the G.I.A. (Gemological Institute of America). In 1987 she ventured into retail with “Mageia” later to become her flagship store and always a reflection of her diverse world of interests, anything from clothing and accessories to artwork and of course jewellery. In 1996 the “Ileana Makri” signature jewellery line was introduced in the store and was instantly being picked up by Barneys in New York. In just over a decade Ileana Makri has built a solid international reputation and business as well as capturing the attention of high profile clients such as Uma Thurman, Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, Lenny Kravitz etc. ILEANA MAKRI Ileana is fascinated by multicultural symbols and their meaning. Her jewellery features a range of mystical and figurative symbols in gold and gemstones. The underlying “rock chic” approach to the design makes her jewellery uncompromisingly contemporary and simultaneously timeless. In her own words Ileana Makri creates “jewellery for no special occasion”. 38, rue du Mont Thabor - 75001 Paris / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Drawing on the philosophy to create jewellery that “arouses emotions and gracefully reflects the essence of ones inner beauty”, Jacqueline Rabun’s designs are rich in symbolism and organic purity. She began her exploration in jewellery design in 1989 having arrived in London from her native United States of America. Her debut collection was well received commercially and critically for its poetic approach and fluid, conceptual shapes that evoke organic forms – themes which have evolved into her signature with her ongoing collections. Her characteristic jewellery is given greater dimension, combining wearability with precious with the use of diamonds and gold. In 1997, Jacqueline started her long-term collaboration with Georg Jensen creating fine jewellery collections for the brand. The most renowned, the Cave collection, encouraged its wearer to seek tranquility and to retreat to one’s inner space for stillness and contemplation. JACQUELINE RABUN In 2007, she then opened her own store in Grosvenor Crescent Mews, a charming residential area in London’s Belgravia and until now continues to expand her collections combining wearability with precious. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Born in Algeria Jean Grisoni is a self-educated man. In his early years he begins a professional career as a graphic designer, and next as an artistic director in various renowned parisian agencies. By then he opens his first consulting agency in visual communication. His clients are mostly cultural institutions and a choice of glamourous brands. It is while collaborating with la Monnaie de Paris (Paris Mint) on a line of precious items that Jean Grisoni discovers jewellery design, and is thrilled by this new field, which will not keep him from developing his other interests. From his native Mediterranean sea, Jean Grisoni has kept an eye for ornament, a relish for powerful jewellery and the lust for chains… When walking on the shore he harvests lost and found items to make good use of them in his studies. Thus he makes opposites meet with each other: the rough and the refined, the coarse and the polished, the ordinary and the precious, the incidental and the conceptual, the antique and the contemporary. His own artist’s statement often stems from a dissimilarity a contrast. JEAN GRISONI As much a designer as an image professional, his personal approach leads him both towards the jewellery world along with the design of graphic pieces. Being eclectic is his only permanent feature…. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Karen Liberman’s jewellery collection celebrates the rich details and decorative elements found in various cultural and artistic traditions throughout history. Raised in Australia and deriving inspiration from her MoroccanMiddle Eastern heritage, references to ancient techniques as well as a preservation of these old-world crafts for the modern day forms the foundation of this collection. Karen hand-picks ancient coins, precious and semi-precious gemstones from some of the world’s best lapidaries: Burmese rubies, sapphire cabochons, and carved tourmalines. The stones and coins are chosen for their individual character and beauty. These are then combined with silver and gold creatively detailed and finished by hand. Karen works closely with talented international artisans to create pieces that are beautifully crafted. Each piece is unique with its own personality yet forms part of a story. The jewellery can be worn as individual pieces or collected and layered over time. KAREN LIBERMAN A creative spirit, she is also an amateur photographer and gardener whose travels have greatly influenced her classic gypsy style. Located in Melbourne Australia, all pieces are sold to exclusive boutiques and through Karen Liberman Studio by appointment only. The Aman resorts collection of luxury hotels also carries a selection of her jewellery range. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com With a decade of 3-D design experience in New York, Asia, Europe and South America (and a background in philosophy & painting), Lena Skadegard has traveled in search of the unexpected, identifying new notions of beauty and preciousness. Dividing her time between three continents, her collections reflect and synthesize place, history, faith and landscape while emphasizing the preciousness of organic, raw materials. Raised visiting the Kashmiri Himalayas and the Danish north coast at holidays, a combined background, appreciation of the wild landscape and the aesthetics of diverse cultures inform her sensibility, while continued travel sustains her curiosity and keeps materials, textures & palettes intriguing. No two pieces are identical - every gem, stone, fossil and shell leads to a different exploration according to inherent qualities, encouraging unexpected friendships. Simple settings emphasize the natural elegance of a polished North Sea fossil while delicate gems are paired with robust nylon cord tied according to Pacific Island tying traditions. Pieces combine or stand alone: layered strands of tumbled Afghani tourmalines evoke royal opulence while a humble wooden pendant from Vermont’s forests draws the eye and imagination to its evocative, unpresuming charm. Lena Skadegard Most gems are set to kiss the skin - according to many traditions this activates protective properties of the stones. Each finished group is blessed & immersed in rose & marigold petals, pomegranates, fruit, incense and holy water, intended to bring joyful energy to the wearer. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Lia di Gregorio has lived in Milan since 1990 where she designs and produces her jewellery collection. She loves pearls yet conceals them; she plays with simple, clean geometries enriching them with unexpected details. She applies the technique of embroidery onto precious materials and uses gold thread as if it were silk to sew small diamonds, rubies and pearls. From her sketches to her models in paper, wax and wire, manual skills and creative concepts grow intertwined. Her studio is a meeting place for creative minds. LIA DI GREGORIO 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Lito Karakostanoglou opened her “Open Studio” in Athens in 1999 showcasing primarily one-off pieces with a variety of materials and styles. Lito was originally trained at Boston in marketing management and advertising. Being self-taught in jewellery and despite her success in Athens, she wanted to further enhance her craftsmanship, so she moved to Paris in 2004. For two years Lito studied sculpture and life drawings at École des Beaux Arts and technical drawing for jewellery at École de la rue du Louvre. During that time, she created pieces for Kenzo and Jean Paul Gaultier. She also designed charms for handbags of Zadig et Voltaire. Lito returned to Athens in 2007 much to the joy of her loyal clientele, to re-open her shop inspired this time by the concept of the “Cabinets of Curiosities”. She is currently focusing on introducing her work abroad. Each piece by Lito takes its root from a particular story in her scouting of gems around the world and creating something exclusive and personal for her clients. Lito Design emanates from the properties of her materials themselves rather than following some abstract notion. Gold embraces semi-precious stones and natural materials like corals and shells. Each piece retains its own energy and purpose. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com LoquetLondon is a new British luxury jewellery concept created by Sheherazade Goldsmith with Laura Bailey that launched in June 2013. The gold framed crystal ‘Loquet’ is designed to open and be personalized with collectable charms and birthstones. From a lucky horseshoe, a gold initial, a September sapphire or a diamond studded shooting star, each ‘Loquet’ is a unique and bespoke gift, a love letter coded in charms. A true labour of love, Sheherazade and Laura have developed LoquetLondon alongside a wealth of young creative talent and worked closely with established London jeweller Michael Ventura. “Every ‘Loquet’ tells a story. Each charm represents an emotion, a special memory – What’s in your world? What’s in your heart?” says Sheherazade Goldsmith “Fill your virtual ‘Loquet’ with a treasure trove of luck and love, a glint of diamond, a sapphire glow. For a one-of-a kind necklace to cherish, for yourself or a loved one”, says Laura, who wears hers doubled up, day and night. Classic from a distance, original and curious close-up, a ‘Loquet’ is an eye-catching talking-point. A flash of colour, a spark of gold, a desert-island memory, a child’s birthstone. LOQUETLONDON We carry our stories close to our hearts. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Natasha began her path to success at The Slade, one of the most prestigious art schools in Europe where she studied Fine Art Painting and gained a First. During this time, Natasha’s unique sense of form and colour harmonies was the early precursor of the designs for her future jewellery collections. Following her degree, Natasha was awarded the acclaimed Traveller Award and chose to study in New York where she was given the opportunity to work alongside the internationally renowned jeweller Jessica Rose and was given the space within her studio on West Broadway to further her studies and skills. Much of Natasha’s inspiration comes from the beautiful Island of Ibiza, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, artisan earthiness and its kaleidoscope of natural sunlight. After relocating with her family to Ibiza, Natasha opened her shop and studio in 2009, in St Miguel, the North of the Island. Natasha uses her instinctive eye for details and her trained eye for colour to perfectly balance unusual precious stones with hand-melted gold nuggets. Each design possesses an original beauty and character that cannot be recreated in another. “My designs are subtle yet strong as with the random beauty found in nature” natasha collis 38, rue du Mont Thabor - 75001 Paris / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Having graduated from Bunka Fashion College, the Tokyo native Naohiko Noguchi, born in the late 1960s, began his career as a freelance fashion and accessories designer in Italy and France. In 2004 he launched Noguchi Bijoux, characterized by refinement, delicacy, and a sense of poetry, which mirrors his own discreet and mysterious nature. The 14-karat yellow or white gold, his metal of choice owing to its soft color, envelopes small diamonds, white, brown or smokey gray, with a rare delicacy. A subtle sheen, an air of patination, and Noguchi’s aversion to fashion trends renders the jewellery timeless, without compromising its contemporary allure. Hand-crafted like a miniature sculpture in his Tokyo workshop, each piece is full of charm and magnetism and seems tailor-made to the individual who wears it. The collection is sold exclusively at his Tokyo boutique and at a few carefully selected shops around the world. At his discretion, it is not available online. NOGUCHI 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Noor Fares is a young London-based jewellery designer who draws her inspiration from her time spent travelling and exploring the different cultures of countries all over the world. Noor grew up in a creative family, playing in her designer aunt’s atelier and making things out of whatever came to hand. Her fascination for the beautiful pieces found in her mother’s jewellery box soon progressed to many hours spent amongst the souks and flea markets she encountered on her travels. On leaving school, Noor took a degree in History of Art where she expanded her knowledge and appreciation of Fine Art, enriching her taste and informing her inspiration. At this time, Noor’s love for fine jewellery grew and she began to design and commission her own pieces. This led to her taking a course at the GIA where she expanded her knowledge on the craftsmanship of jewellery-making and the properties of precious stones. In turn, Noor’s personal creations drew admiration from friends and family, naturally leading to the launch of her own brand N.oor in 2009. Over the past three years, Noor has grown as an international designer and thus her brand has developed to be titled as her namesake today: Noor Fares. NOOR FARES In reference to the talismans’s and charms from the many cultures which have touched her, Noor’s collections combine new and interesting materials - bronze, exotic woods from ebony to jet, diamonds and gemstones of every shade – and always with hidden protection in the form of lucky motifs. The protective eye which is so much a part of her Lebanese heritage is always engraved on the inside of most pieces. Noor is currently enrolled as a post-graduate at the internationally renowned Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design in London. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Philippa started designing in 2003 after studying ‘The History of Jewellery’ at Sotheby’s. Her work is inspired by the natural world, ancient England and our folklore. Philippa uses organic objects such as seed pods, leaves, insects and skeletons that she collects largely from the Savernake Forest, but also during her extensive worldwide travels, to inspire her jewellery pieces. Philippa produces all her jewellery in England, using highly skilled craftsmen in small workshops. She uses a variety of techniques and works mainly in gold, but also some silver, with precious and semi-precious stones sourced in Jaïpur, India. PHILIPPA HOLLAND 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Born in Canada in a family of wanderers, Pippa Small grew up in England, and soon she too would often travel around the world. Thereby she became fascinated by the people she met along her journeys and their way of life, this strong interest leading her to anthropology studies, more specifically tribe’s behaviour towards their ornamental customs. It is in India, while visiting the Precious Stones Market of Jaïpur, that she will discover stones from all over the world and meet local craftsmen with whom she will develop long-term friendly relationships. About ten years ago, she presented her first collection in Paris, which immediatly drew the eyes of the Fashion community, leading to collaborations with Gucci, Chloé and Bamford. Pippa’s jewellery draws inspiration from the inner natural power and beauty of the precious material she uses: stones moulded by centuries in the very core of the earth, shells carved by the tides, gold hidden in rocks and rivers. Her jewellery pieces are bearers of their own secret tale and life energy. PIPPA SMALL Concerned by keeping indigenous craftsmanship and traditional talents alive and growing, she is part of various charity projects worldwide which aim at giving back to people in trouble their independance and self-sufficiency by producing a regular income. 38, rue du Mont Thabor - 75001 Paris / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Polly Wales studied Fine Art Sculpture before following her passion for jewellery and retraining at the Royal College of Art graduating in 2006. She has brought together her skills as a sculptor, her love of traditional casting and carving techniques and her craftsmanship to create one of a kind pieces of jewellery. Her current collections use a serendipitous approach to lost wax casting techniques married with the rich colours and beautiful cuts of fine gem stones. Polly uses sapphires and rubies directly cast into gold, creating pieces that resemble natural gem encrusted forms, like sparkling geodes split open, or discoveries from the deep. This unorthodox process is unique to Polly and has become her signature style, gaining her international recognition at major exhibitions and in craft and jewellery galleries. She is also selling in numerous stores in the UK, Europe and USA. Polly Wales 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com British designer Sia Taylor evokes the lyrical beauty of nature through her fine jewellery. While a sculpture student at London’s Royal College of Art, Sia spent her last term at a research camp in the bush in Botswana. It was a creatively inspirational time, where Sia became deeply interested in the subtle lives and forms of nature around her. Her fine jewellery collections, years after years are a continuation process, which takes forms inspired by seeds, grasses, clusters of insect eggs, and the internal structures of plants. Taylor’s emphasizes minimalist refinement and restraint to evoke a sense of lyricism and rhythm through the delicate details of her work. Yellow and white 18-karat gold are used to create small seed like forms, which are hooked into lengths of fine box link chain. The seed forms appear both in clusters – as with a pair of yellow gold earrings - in uniform procession along the front of a necklace, or in rhythmic variables that draw from natural compositions. SIA TAYLOR She makes every piece by hand in her studio. It is a meditation and a labour of love, which shows through in the final product. Each piece becomes like a work of art something precious to hold on to and cherish. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Sophie Bille Brahe started her namesake company almost without noticing it. After finishing a masters in design at the Royal College of Art in London, Sophie began to create one-off pieces for designers and celebrities, among them a triple gold and diamond ring for Madonna’s fiftieth birthday. Encouraged by fashion insiders – buyers and international editors – she launched her collection in 2011. Growing up in Copenhagen, even as a child Sophie knew she wanted to be a goldsmith. “I went to an old hippie school where they believed everybody has a talent. So they made me a workshop where I could do jewellery,” she marvels. “What a really nice way of helping me.” Her love of storytelling is inherited, passed down through generations of Brahes, beginning with her great-great-great grandfather, the world-renowned astrologer Tycho Brahe. A perfectionist, it took 18 months to assemble the Sophie Bille Brahe team. “I wanted the right people around me,” Sophie explains. Today, the business is run like a family company. We call it the SBB family.” Within months of launching, the collection acquired a cult following in the fashion industry underpinning Sophie’s ability to resonate with what women want to wear. “I want my jewellery to tell stories. I don’t want it to be status symbols.” Sophie Bille Brahe brings emotion back to jewellery. Empowering, cool, understated, she makes beautiful jewellery that means something, to last. Sophie Bille Brahe “My clients are independent women, very secure in their own style.” At the workshop in Copenhagen, everything is made by hand, using centuries-old goldsmith techniques. The language of the brand lies in proportion and shape, simplicity and pared downness. Sophie’s clientele of inspiring women includes Lykke Li, Rihanna and Emma Watson. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com Ron Anderson, a Michigan native, taught himself to make jewellery while working in the fashionable boutiques of Birmingham MI and moved to NYC to work in high fashion retail. He began to sell his handmade jewellery on the streets of Soho in the late 80’s. David Rees, an Ohio native, earned an art history degree, moved to NYC and worked for high end fashion retailers Charivari and Linda Dresner. They met in 1991 and formed the jewellery company TENTHOUSANDTHINGS. The name is taken from a line of the ancient Chinese philosophy, the I-Ching that is translated ‘from one thing begets the ten thousand things’. The inherent concept of infinite creativity and constant evolution appealed to the designers who adopted that philosophy as their guiding principal. The primary focus of TENTHOUSANDTHINGS has always been to work with the finest natural gems and pearls and develop original techniques to create unique jewellery. As self taught artisans, the designers have developed a reputation for original and unique work that has the integrity of antique jewelry but is distinctly modern. Initial collections were labeled “personal jewelry“ by the fashion press and helped to solidify a new direction in fashion jewelry. TENTHOUSANDTHINGS In 1997 they opened their first flagship retail store and production studio on 19th street in Manhattan. They designed and created the interior which was a unique combination of organic materials, hand blown glass, rough hewn wood and wool felt that complemented the design esthetic of the jewellery and was a further illumination of their focus on refined handmade objects and natural materials. They recently relocated their flagship store and production facility to 423 West 14th street as the meatpacking district was being developed and again designed and created its interior. TENTHOUSANDTHINGS has been represented in the finest stores in the world including Barney’s New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Linda Dresner, Maxfield’s. In addition, the jewelry has been editorialized in all major fashion press and featured in numerous movies and television shows. 38 rue du Mont Thabor 75001 Paris — FRANCE / contact@whitebirdjewellery.com
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