The Magic Garden of Mr. Lee
CINER and Patch NYC are very pleased to introduce our new jewelry collaboration!
For this special collection of jewelry, PATCH NYC designers Don Carney and John Ross were inspired by the fictitious tale of Mr. Lee, an amateur botanist, rumored to have a garden of flowers in exquisite color combinations, with blooms larger than ever seen before. He lived in the smallest of houses, surrounded by the biggest of gardens, with flowering plants stretching out in all directions. Mr. Lee had an affinity for animals tiny and large, from buzzing bees to towering elephants, and he welcomed all to his garden. These animals soon learned that Mr. Lee’s plants were not only beautiful but quite tasty as well, so the animals enjoyed nibbling on the magic plants and, in turn, became quite magical and colorful as well.
You can now enjoy the wonders from The Magic Garden of Mr. Lee with this new collection of beautifully crafted jewelry made entirely in our New York City studio. Take a bejeweled tour through Mr. Lee’s sparkling garden and see pearl encrusted bees, tigers with blue stripes and crystal eyes, jewel-studded elephants wearing royal crowns, and Mr. Lee himself holding one of his prized giant roses.
Don and John have always had an appreciation of vintage materials so they were very excited to collaborate with our company. This collaboration allowed Don and John to explore our rich archives, and to utilize the immense talent of our skilled artisans.
CINER was so excited when Don and John approached Kris Ciulla about a possible collaboration. Having a mutual admiration for each other’s line of work, we knew something spectacular was about to happen.
Don and John were inspired by several vintage CINER designs, especially the vintage figure, later known as Mr. Lee. To make these vintage archive pieces more modern and in the aesthetic of PATCH NYC, we adapted what we like to call the Frankenstein approach. The Frankenstein approach is when we take its and bits from our 125 year old archives, to create new and exciting pieces for today. This technique gave Don and John the creative opportunity to transform original Ciner designs and develop the magical tale of Mr. Lee.
Don and John worked closely with our design team to create whimsical pieces that reflect their aesthetic combined with the classical taste and fine craftsmanship CINER is known for. We had so much fun creating this collaboration and can’t wait to see how Mr. Lee’s Garden grows! Keep an eye out for new and exciting additions coming in 2018.
About PATCHNYC:
Designers Don Carney and John Ross established PATCH NYC with a collection of hand-detailed hats in the fall of 1997. Inspired by a hat made by John’s mom, Yasuko, for her son’s first New York winter, the designers created a collection using hand-dyed wool from the Union Square Farmers market and vintage buttons for embellishment.
Encouraged by the success of their hat collection, the designers added fabric scarves and special occasion handbags the following year. An appreciation of vintage embroidery, applique and beading techniques motivated the pair to embellish their designs with intricate details inspired by items found at the New York flea market. This attention to detail combined with an unpredictable color palette quickly became PATCH NYC’s design signature. Today, PATCH NYC has evolved into a lifestyle studio creating original art and designing collections of home decor and fashion accessories including costume jewelry, scarves and the HUNTER line of sterling and one-of-a kind jewelry.
In addition to the PATCH NYC line, Don and John have designed home collections exclusively for West Elm and Anthropologie, serving pieces and objects with Paris based Astier de Villatte, stationery for Barnes & Noble and Bell’Invito and a line of scented candles and fragrances with Soap and Paper Factory. In September 2012, PATCH NYC presented a 50 plus collection of home decor items designed exclusively for Target as part of the Shops at Target program.
PATCH NYC art and designs have been featured in numerous international fashion and home decor publications as well as on television and in film. The PATCH NYC collection can be found in specialty stores worldwide and in the PATCH NYC Shop located in Boston, Massachusetts.
You can read more about PATCH NYC here.