Coconut shell, in particular, is amongst the only woods to never rot. It is remarkably robust, with a skin as smooth as ivory. There is a certain type of fiddle whose body can be made from a coconut shell that only grows in Amphawa. Very few artisans can shape this coconut, which grows in the fluid form of a woman’s silhouette.
Ebony, which has long been a spiritual symbol in South East Asian culture, is sourced from Burma. Tales abound of craftsmen who have fallen to ill luck due to not paying respect to the wood before cutting into it.
Siam Gold is a stamp which can still be found on antiques and family heirlooms. It captures the essence of Thailand in the 1930s and bears witness to a world when life was simpler and Siam stood as a symbol of independence.
The designer works with her partner Kenzi Harleman who inspired her latest “Lignes d’Été” collection informed by his African arts collection. Looking to his African mask collectibles, Patcharaviapa created lifelike forms in the embodiment of bracelets, earrings, rings and hair jewelry. She also looked to her grandfather’s tribal art collection from places like the Galapagos, Bhutan and Egypt.
Patcharaviapa designs jewelry for both women and men, as well as bespoke pieces handcrafted in her Bangkok Studio using the finest materials. The designer works closely with clients from around the world to create one-off designs for special ceremonies in the form of contemporary heirlooms and masterpieces.
Patcharaviapa is a graduate of Central Saint Martins and a certified gemologist from the Graduate Diamonds Program at the Gemology Institute of America and the Color Stones Program at the Asian Institute of Gemological Sciences. She launched her namesake brand in 2016 after returning to her hometown, Bangkok, and establishing her own team of goldsmiths.