We've all heard about art curators and museum curators. Music curators, even. But what about a curator of friends? That's exactly the role jeweler Aurora Lopez Mejia seems to have slipped into with Talavera, her new by-appointment-only downtown New York boutique. "We're all this tribe of gypsies going around, being inspired by things, discovering things," says Lopez Mejia of the luxe roster of designer-friends she has in her stable. And oh what things -- Francesca Bristol's stunning stingray dagger pendants, Abraxas Rex's chunky herkimer diamond rings, Philipa Holland's dragonfly neckwear, not to mention Lopez Mejia's own collection of hand-engraved gold and silver goods. But the fantastic offerings don't stop with the finery. She's also featuring textiles by Madeline Weinrib in everything from clutches to cushions and rugs. (Weinrib just happens to be the great granddaughter of the ABC Carpet & Home founder and has her own spot on the store's sixth floor.) As for the West Village space itself, which used to belong to photographer pal Francois Halard, there's plenty of curatorial going-ons here, too. The doors are from the old Plaza Hotel; an installation of tiles hails from Provence, and there are artifacts from across the globe scattered everywhere. "I'm rescuing inspiration," Lopez Mejia remarks. Gem Dandy
We've all heard about art curators and museum curators. Music curators, even. But what about a curator of friends? That's exactly the role jeweler Aurora Lopez Mejia seems to have slipped into with Talavera, her new by-appointment-only downtown New York boutique. "We're all this tribe of gypsies going around, being inspired by things, discovering things," says Lopez Mejia of the luxe roster of designer-friends she has in her stable. And oh what things -- Francesca Bristol's stunning stingray dagger pendants, Abraxas Rex's chunky herkimer diamond rings, Philipa Holland's dragonfly neckwear, not to mention Lopez Mejia's own collection of hand-engraved gold and silver goods. But the fantastic offerings don't stop with the finery. She's also featuring textiles by Madeline Weinrib in everything from clutches to cushions and rugs. (Weinrib just happens to be the great granddaughter of the ABC Carpet & Home founder and has her own spot on the store's sixth floor.) As for the West Village space itself, which used to belong to photographer pal Francois Halard, there's plenty of curatorial going-ons here, too. The doors are from the old Plaza Hotel; an installation of tiles hails from Provence, and there are artifacts from across the globe scattered everywhere. "I'm rescuing inspiration," Lopez Mejia remarks. Keywords
