I first met André Chervin in 1987.

As a fresh graduate from FIT, I was excited and anxious to apply my education to the real world, to bring my wildest bejewelled dreams to life. I was fortunately bestowed the opportunity to work as a jewellery designer for the iconic British luxury brand, Asprey. It was through this opportunity that I was introduced to Mr. Chervin, owner of Carvin French, the world-renowned master jewellery atelier. Upon hiring me, Asprey felt it was necessary for me to continue my education before creating collections for the brand, and that the right mentor was Mr. Chervin; that was when my tutelage under Mr. Chervin began, and almost never ended.

Carvin French was founded in 1954, when Mr. Chervin and his friend, Serge Carponcy, emigrated the the US from France. Their aim was to open a workshop that realized the most intricate and finest jewels, sharing their talents and experiences with the world. Later in the life of the company, Mr. Chervin continued on to be the sole owner. This was the time when I was there daily, being trained and tutored by Mr. Chervin. I was mesmerized, in awe and intimidated at the same time. Captivated by his sense of humour, creativity, refined artisanship and leadership, the Carvin French workshop became a new classroom, with Mr. Chervin as my mentor.

Upon learning that Mr. Chervin’s work would be celebrated at the New York Historical Society, I knew that I not only needed to revisit these masterpieces for my own sentiment, but to invite my studio, my team, to take the trip back to a time that now serves as a pillar of my identity as a designer.

We made the journey to the Historical Society on a joyfully sunny January day to view the exhibition, titled “Enchanting Imagination: The Objets d’Art of André Chervin & Carvin French Jewelers.” Once we arrived to the museum, we were greeted by the greatest treasure of all–a private tour by Mr. Chervin and his lovely daughter, Carole. They were so gracious and fabulous, spending over two hours with us discussing each piece, sharing the stories and the journeys behind them. This simply confirmed to us that these were not single works of art on display, but each one a volume in an anthology.

One cannot help feeling awestruck, like a child at a firework display, by the sculptures, the lamps and the jewels meticulously lit in the darkened room. Mr. Chervin’s pure love for gemstones in their natural glory so clearly resonates throughout this exhibition, and having experienced his explanation through each thought process was magical. Guided by Carole’s passion and expertise, we learned the stories behind these stunning works of art.

Selecting a favorite objet is an impossible task, as each buzzes with a fantastically distinct energy. Therefore, our studio has compiled a selection of standouts from the show’s dazzling lineup. You can find their corresponding pictures at the end of this post:

1. "Rubies des Grenouilles": A lamp many years in the making. Mr. Chervin came across the central cube of fluorite while in Tucson, Arizona, but the idea for the lamp came later, when experimenting with how the green shades contrasted with the juicy red rubies. This lamp is a truly magnificent feat of engineering, as the fluorite’s fragility required careful lapidary work when transforming the cube into the lamp’s shaft. Each Burmese ruby slice composing the lampshade required a different depth measurement in order to display the perfect balance of colour and light. For a dash of whimsy, one notices two frogs spryly climbing up the lamp’s base, hiding a secret from their observer.

2a. “L'Opulence I” & 2b. “L'Opulence II”: These two lamps were born from fate. Upon carving the jade for the lamp with the aquamarine shaft (2a), Mr. Chervin and the lapidary realized that they could carve two lamp shades from the single stone in their workshop. Each of these spectacular lampshades emit a feeling of stained glass, which in reality is the skillful carving of the different tones and shades of the natural jade. It is hard to believe that these charming garden scenes etched across the swirled green apple surfaces were carved from a single stone.

3. "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in the Tub": We simply loved this sculpture, depicting two comical figurines that were born from one of Mr. Chervin’s many playful drawings. This story depicts the misadventure of two (literally) dirty Wild Western outlaws, who secretly function as salt and pepper shakers. From their carved white and black agate mustaches and sculptural rock crystal quartz hats, to the “filthy” blackened silver bath, this display exhibits humour through discreet details that, for others, might be easily overlooked.

4. "Windy Winter Bonsai in Eggshell Planter III": The fantastic bonsai tree, only one of a group that Mr. Chervin created in a forest of bonsais. While there is so much detail to traverse, it is the elements in the trees’ pots that keep us mesmerized. What might look like fractured enamel is actually a mosaic of eggshells, carefully cracked and placed by a master artisan specializing in this ancient mosaic technique.

My personal journey as a designer has encountered many twists and turns, and I am forever grateful to those incredible icons who have offered their enthusiastic guidance and support throughout the years. Mr. Chervin was crucial to my foundation as an artist and as a person, beginning from my time with Asprey as a designer to establishing my own company. When I eventually branched out on my own, I turned to Carvin French in 1995 for their renowned experience to bring my first collection, the Stitch Collection, to life. I felt that if anyone could capture the marriage of whimsy and chic, it would be Mr. Chervin.

Thank you to Mr. Chervin and Carole for sharing this monumental experience with us. The master, personally guiding us through his show, sharing his incredible lifetime of work, was the most extraordinary experience. I am so appreciative to Carole for helping make both this exhibition and our trip a reality. She beams with such pride when sharing anecdotes about her father’s accomplishments, and she is clearly committed to preserving Carvin French’s legacy and soul.

I truly hope that you can visit this magical world before it closes on March 17th, 2024 to discover this ode to master-artistry for yourself. This exhibition is a rare opportunity to view masterpieces that are being shown to the public for the first time, and you will feel the excitement of being able to peek inside the imagination of a revered artist. Each day in my studio, while working, I hear the whispers of Mr. Chervin and his mentorship. I am forever grateful.

More information about visiting this wonderful show can be found by clicking the following link to the New York Historical Society’s website:

“Enchanting Imagination: The Objets d’Art of André Chervin and Carvin French Jewelers” Exhibition

A book created in conjunction with the exhibition and documenting these amazing objets can be found by clicking the following link to the New York Historical Society’s online shop:

“Enchanting Imagination: The Objets d'Art of Andre Chervin and Carvin French Jewelers” Book