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Top to bottom: Diamond bead and coin necklace from 1884 Collection, chimpanzee charm by Alex Woo, ring by Matthieu Cheminée.
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Jewelry designer Alex Woo has joined forces with Disney to
create two signature eco-friendly charms inspired by the 2012 Disneynature
movie release, “Chimpanzee.” The film opened on April 20th to coincide with
Earth Day 2012. Twenty percent of the net proceeds generated by the sale of
these charms will be donated to the Jane Goodall Institute to help fund the
organization’s See “Chimpanzee,” Save Chimpanzees program. Oscar, the baby
chimpanzee, is the main character in the film and the inspiration for each
charm. The vines in the design represent people, animals and the environment
and the synergy among the three. The sterling silver or 14-karat gold pendants
are made from sustainable resources and crafted in New York City.
History and legends, symbols of Rome and fashion are the
impetus behind the 1884 Collection by Alberto Petochi, a sixth-generation
artist from an historic Roman jewelry family. Ancient Roman coins featuring
three different emperors who made a positive historical impact are the focal
point of the collection, which includes rings, bracelets and necklaces —
including a diamond chain. In addition, the 1884 Collection has partnered with
the Make A Wish Foundation to give children with a life-threatening illness the
opportunity to travel to Italy. In keeping with the tradition of wishing on a
coin, every consumer who purchases a piece of the1884 Collection jewelry is
given a certificate to register their piece online, along with a wish. A coin
is then tossed into the Trevi Fountain in Rome on their behalf.
Parisian native Matthieu Cheminée discovered jewelry making
in Taos, New Mexico, where he became enamored with the culture of Native
Americans. He studied jewelry making with the Navajo, Zuni and Hopi for seven years
before moving to Mali in West Africa, where he continued to study the jewelry
craft. He later moved to Montreal, Canada, where he trained in the classical
art of jewelry making and where he continues to live and work. His jewelry is
on display at the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York City as part of the Jewelry
Artists of Quebec exhibition. To give back to the community in Africa that
helped him so much, Cheminée has been filming jewelry-making techniques in
Guinea, Mali and Niger and then teaching a jewelry-making class based on these
techniques in Montreal. The proceeds from the classes are split with the
African jewelers. A course that was done on filigree with African jeweler
Ibrahima Condé has generated enough money for him to be able to open his own
shop in Conakry, Guinea. Cheminée also is working with a nongovernmental
organization (NGO) in Guinea to open a school for those jewelers who wish to
further develop their skills and to teach women, street children and people
with disabilities a trade they may not have otherwise had a chance to learn.
Article from the Rapaport Magazine - June 2012. To subscribe click here.