Philippe Guilhem: Mashandy Origyne Collection Debuts in New Boutique in Megève
I have watched the seeds of the Mashandy collection take root, flourish and grow into a complex and spiritual forest for designer and gemstone expert Philippe Guilhem. The latest phase of this offering, Mashandy Origyne, fuses ancient languages with patinated bronze and precious gemstones in a union that’s inspired by primitive art. To celebrate the launch, I was invited to the opening of a new Mashandy exhibition space in Megève, France, where Philippe has created a high jewellery universe full of mysterious beauty.
What starts as a simple retail space can quickly become an intriguing escape from reality when guided by the right hand. In December, I travelled to a French ski resort Megève to step inside one such space that’s drawn from the imagination of art jeweller Philippe Guilhem. It’s a boutique and exhibition space located on the main square that is dedicated to his Mashandy Collection – a pairing of the names of his two children, Masha and Andy, with his wife, Maria Verchenova. An unusual feature of the boutique is the arts from Oceania (mostly masks and statues) that are displayed alongside the jewels inside and out of the display cases. These weaved in original artefacts celebrate ancient cultures and were kindly provided by Anthony JP Meyer, the founder of the Meyer Oceanic Art & Eskimo Art Gallery in Paris, who collaborated with Philippe on merging Primitive Arts, Antiques and Fine Jewellery.
Rings in patinated bronze and topped with gemstones from the Philippe Guilhem Mashandy collection
The space in Megève is moody, earthy, and befitted with dark wood, stone, and lowered lighting to hint at a time when hunter-gatherer was a common job description among humans! It’s not quite stepping back in time, but there’s something enticing about seeing high jewellery pieces presented alongside art and sculpture from many generations ago!
A closer look at the sculptures at the new Philippe Guilhem Mashandy boutique in Megève
The new Philippe Guilhem Mashandy boutique in Megève features rings from the new Origyne collection
Historical artefacts are presented alongside fine jewellery at the Philippe Guilhem Mashandy boutique in Megève
The Mashandy collection by Philippe Guilhem contains rings crafted in titanium and set with coloured gemstone cabochons
Historical artefacts on display at the Philippe Guilhem Mashandy boutique in Megève, France
Philippe Guilhem Iryna ring with a 5.02 carat violet spinel and Chinese characters from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Imisy ring with a 5.02 carat Mandarin garnet and Egyptian hieroglyphs from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Vya ring with an 8.35 carat tsavorite and Arabic script from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Isyce ring with a 3.74 carat sapphire and Greek lettering from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Iryna ring with a 20.90 carat rhodolite garnet and classical Sanskrit embellishments from the Mashandy Origyne collection
A closer look at the Iryna ring with a 20.90 carat rhodolite garnet and classical Sanskrit accents from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Iryna ring with a 5.02 carat violet spinel and Chinese characters from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Two rings from the Philippe Guilhem Mashandy Origyne collection including the Imisy ring with a 6.14 carat tsavorite and Cuneiform script (left) and another with a 5.02 carat Mandarin garnet and Egyptian hieroglyphs in bronze and rose gold
Philippe Guilhem Imisy ring with a 6.14 carat tsavorite and ancient Cuneiform symbols from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Kyma ring with a 7.01 carat garnet and Hebrew lettering from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Iryna ring with a 20.90 carat rhodolite garnet and Sanskrit details from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Mykloss ring with a 9.37 carat garnet and Arabic script from the Mashandy Origyne collection
Philippe Guilhem Markiss ring with an 8 carat garnet and lettering from the extinct Phoenician language from the Mashandy Origyne collection
WORDS
Katerina Perez With more than 12 years’ experience in the jewellery sector, Katerina Perez’s expert knowledge spans everything from retail sales and management to content creation, including brand building, jewellery writing and styling. Born and raised in St Petersburg, Katerina’s favourite hobby as a child was playing with the treasures in her grandmother's jewellery box, inspiring a lifelong love of jewellery from a very early age. She spent five years in St Petersburg University of Culture and Arts studying not journalism but business studies and languages, and her writing skills have developed as her passion for her favourite subject – jewellery – has grown. This is why her writing comes straight from the heart rather than the pages of a book. Daughter of an entrepreneur mother, Katerina exchanged her retail management job for jewellery writing in 2013 and hasn’t looked back since.
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