Ted Muehling
A cache of jewellery and objets d’art inspired by nature in Tribeca
Jeweller and decorative object designer Ted Muehling’s Tribeca boutique is as close as you get to a Zen sanctuary in NYC. For Muehling’s fanbase – a stylish, smart set working in the fields of art, design, film and publishing – and newcomers alike, this retail destination provides a breath of fresh air in Lower Manhattan.
Ted Muehling gold Olive Branch bracelets ($1,500) | Image: Ngoc Minh Ngo
The minimal space – a former children’s theatre reimagined by architects Fernlund & Logan – is, as Muehling explains, meant to be “a no-design design; a backdrop that is as plain as a glass of water”. The effect is one of serene beauty that showcases the sculptural forms the artist creates in metal, semiprecious stones, porcelain and paper-thin glass, offset with a smattering of shells, birds’ nests and butterflies. The ethereal setting features a mezzanine and gallery space, as well as a busy workshop.
Inspired by organic shapes, and also the work of Arne Jacobsen, Georg Jensen and Anish Kapoor, Muehling tries to see nature in fresh ways. All his shapes are sympathetic – from a pair of Lillypad mother-of-pearl earrings ($180) and hoop clusters with citrines (from $800) to simple, glazed porcelain eggs ($519). The shop also serves as his creative showcase. “By placing candlesticks on a side table, or flowers in a certain vase, I can better communicate my aesthetic,” he says.
Nymphenburg porcelain, from left: large Moon Snail dish, $2,200; small Volute bowl, $1,150; Coral lamp $1,280; Coral vase $1,740; Snails, $240 each; large Volute bowl $2,200 | Image: Ngoc Minh Ngo
Muehling’s timeless jewellery never disappoints, and the shop is full of his greatest hits, including Moth Wing earrings in 18ct gold ($750) and Olive Branch green-gold bracelets ($1,500), as well as newer pieces, such as a striking Tortoise cuff in agate ($3,800). The store offers a profusion of unexpected materials and combinations – pale pink conch shell, wood, rose gold, labradorite and luminescent moonstones – in rich and unique spectrums of colour. In addition to Muehling’s creations, the works of jewellers such as Gabriella Kiss, Lee Hale and Axel Russmeyer are woven into the shop-floor mix.
Ted Muehling hoop cluster earrings, with various precious stones, $800-$1,700 | Image: Ngoc Minh Ngo
Meanwhile, collaborations with Germany’s Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory have yielded 25 sculptural objects for the home, many inspired by seashells and eggshells. Volute bowls ($2,230), a coral vase with delicate perforations ($1,740) and Moon Snail dishes with matte exteriors and glossy interiors ($1,000-$2,200) all mimic surfaces found in nature. Another partnership, with Austrian glass company Lobmeyr, has produced a collection that includes engraved crystal carafes ($850-$1,500), convex and concave tumblers ($92) and decanters featuring hand-painted butterflies ($600-$1,000). Rounding out the selection is a line of Egg and Dart bronze candlesticks crafted in conjunction with ER Butler & Co in oxidised black, silver- and gold-plate finishes (from $288).
Egg and Dart candlesticks, $288-$1,088 | Image: Ngoc Minh Ngo
“In the words of Laurie Anderson,” says Muehling, “‘I’m not trying to be avant-garde. I’m just trying to do something beautiful.’” At this magical emporium, he certainly succeeds.