Parisian jewelry designer Hervé van der Straeten‘s sculptural designs and exacting perfectionism reflect his previous occupation as an engineer. Van der Straeten began designing jewelry while still an art student at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. He made a name for himself as early as 1985 with his jewelry collections, which were an immediate success. Today, Van der Straeten’s designs include furniture, lighting and mirrors, which have all brought him international recognition.
“I try to make my work have a dialogue. Sometimes a material or shape of furniture allows me to create a jewel, and sometimes it is the opposite. There is no rule,” says Van der Straeten.
Herve van der Straeten furniture and lighting at his gallery in Paris.
Cuffs from his Fall 2012 collection.
Elegance and minimalism are the key elements of his approach. Each collection is designed in his own bronze and cabinetmaking workshops and then presented in his gallery in the Marais, which opened in 1999. Van der Straeten is currently presenting his 9th exhibition, Dissonances, with a selection of furniture, mirrors, lamps and objects on display at his gallery until September 30, 2012.
