The Art of Tina Chow

In the art of jewelry design, there are maximalists and there are minimalists.  There are many maximalists but not many minimalists.  Tina Chow's jewelry designs were quiet: a whisper close to your ear, the rustle of a soft breeze in a bamboo forest, amethysts from the tears of the gods...

I was so happy to receive this very beautiful and very special and very rare collection of Tina Chow jewelry for RARE vintage.  They are all perfect examples of the quiet beauty and strong artistry of Tina Chow.  

The Tina Chow Amethyst Cuff:

Purchase the Tina Chow amethyst cuff here.

The Tina Chow Rock Crystal Cuff:

Purchase the Tina Chow rock crystal cuff here.

A Tina Chow Clear Rock Crystal Pendant:

Purchase the Tina Chow rock crystal pendant here.

A Tina Chow Amethyst Pendant Wrapped in Bamboo:

Purchase the Tina Chow amethyst and bamboo pendant from RARE vintage here.

A Tina Chow single pink tourmaline earring wrapped in gold:

Purchase the Tina Chow pink tourmaline earring from RARE vintage here.

A Tina Chow amethyst bead necklace:

Purchase the Tina Chow amethyst bead necklace here.

xo, Juliana

One of One: Kazuko: The Silver Collection

Part Two in a Three Part Series on a Single Owner Collection of Kazuko.  To see Part Two click here and Part One click here.

Kazuko is well known and collected for her gold wire wrapped crystals and stones but she also worked in sterling silver.  I do not believe that the silver pieces were sold at Barneys but if anyone knows for sure, I would love to hear from you!  

The silver pieces have a beautiful ethereal lightness.  I love them as much as I do the gold and I think you will too.

Another view

 

One of One: Kazuko: The Gold Collection

Part Two in a Three Part Series on a Single Owner Collection of Kazuko

To see more Part One of our Kazuko collection or to read more about the unique Kazuko click here.

It is interesting to see where fate takes us.  I never would have known that my early passion for fashion and for vintage fashion in particular would eventually lead to a store on 57th Street but here I am and loving every moment of what I do.  Kazuko collected antique textiles and beads and then she began making scarves from her collection of fabrics and adorning them with the beads she collected.  And from there she started wrapping stones with silk threads and when the silk did not hold the stones she began using gold wire.  And from there began a career that would take her signature jewelry to Barneys and for years that jewelry greeted everyone who came into Barneys. 

You say Artist, Kazuko says Artisan.

"I wanted to do something from my hand and from my heart" Kazuko said.  The first jewelry she created for Barneys were single quartz crystals wrapped in gold to be pinned on.  Then she started doing hearts wrapped in gold.  "Barneys is not a heart store" said Judy Collinson, executive vice president of Barneys. "But she kept bringing them back" and Barneys did become a 'heart store'.

For more information or to purchase please email info@rarevintage.com

My Journey With Tina Chow

My journey with Tina Chow began from afar.  It began with an admiration of her unique sense of style.  And then an admiration for the jewelry she created and a desperate and very frustrating desire to have a piece made by Tina and finding nothing available.  Slowly I began finding pieces for my own personal collection and for the store.  

It has been an incredible journey discovering these pieces and incredibly exciting discovering the scope of her work.  This piece, a black jade pendant, signed by Tina Chow, is modern, minimal and sensual and beautifully made. 

Tina Chow Black Jade Pendant

PURCHASE

INQUIRY

An Important Collection of Tina Chow: Amethyst Oiso Pendant

The dream continues ... Day two of posting our amazing Tina Chow collection.  I wish every day could be like this!

This is a piece that radiates happiness.  It is a beautiful heart shaped amethyst lightly wrapped in thin strips of bamboo.  

Amethyst is a healing and soothing stone.  Tina Chow had said that she wanted her pieces "to zap people with good energy".

What is so remarkable about her jewelry is that they are beautiful and meaningful on so many levels: the pieces are very refined, they are perfect but not ordinarily perfect, they are beautifully crafted but somehow natural at the same time and they have a deeper meaning.  They are more then meets the eye which is exactly what Tina Chow was.

More to come...