MEET TESS SHOLOM, SCULPTORIS
She’s worked hand-in-hand with Fashion Week’s finest, has a permanent art jewelry collection at the Met Fifth Avenue, creates bespoke, 22k wearable art, and holds the title of the Sculptoris. Meet Tess Sholom, and learn why the most precious of gold investments are meant to be worn. by Dan Scott
This feature will introduce you to a bespoke jewelry artist who only designs in 22-karat gold, and holds a title that speaks to sculptural art and the origin of all gold.
From many a millennia, gold has drawn intense popularity in a very dominate force: fashion, or fine jewelry to be precise.
The foundation to mankind’s money has been, and may always be, built upon gold.
We've always deeply respected and admired the metal. Perhaps that's due to the microscopic traces of gold residing in every living person.
Yet, do you know where all earthy gold originated from? Many an established jeweler would answer this question incorrectly. The answer lies above... in stars... exploding stars that is. Rare, exceptional supernova stars collide or self-destruct releasing pure gold and precious metals into the galaxy, and eventually to Earth. An example of such is the well observed Sculptoris star in the Sculptor star system.
Scupltoris is also the trademarked title of an art jewelry designer, and a 'gold star' in her own right.
Enter Tess Sholom, the Sculptoris.
Left: Tess Sholom's one-of-a kind, 22k gold, hand sculptured art jewelry. Right: Autumn de Wilde and Director Julie Dash; Dash wearing Tess Sholom's Circe’s Circle necklace at the 2022 Met Gala. ©2022 Tess Sholom Designs
A Wedding in the Woods
Upon college graduation, Tess worked in cancer research but the isolation of a laboratory didn’t suit her. She had a strong desire to connect with others. That led to her becoming a licensed physical therapist which offered more access to people. “ I liked solving problems and helping others overcome their physical challenges”. The same dynamics of connection and problem solving is at the core of Sholom’s creativity. It gives her great pleasure when one of her creations brings joy to someone. Her introduction to designing and making jewelry came about quite unexpectedly.
She was invited to a wedding in the woods and the dress code was jeans. This couldn’t have been more alien to Tess who took every opportunity to dress up and particularly so for a wedding. She complied by wearing jeans but adorned them with a necklace and belt she made from silver beads, ribbons and seeds. At the wedding, she received so many compliments about the accessories she made and was told she ought to do this professionally. In typical fashion, when a path opens before her, Tess pursues it. Sholom started visiting stores and boutiques to see how necklaces were finished. She researched all forms of ancient to modern clasps to learn how they work . Inspired, shortly thereafter, “ I took several of my pieces to Vogue Magazine,” Sholom remembers. She was an immediate success as one of her necklaces was given editorial credit in Vogue.” Saks Fifth Avenue bought that necklace, and that’s how Tess Sholom exploded onto the global fashion scene.
Within a short time, Vogue called again and history was about to be made. Up to that point ,accessories of any nature were not meant to distract from the clothing; which would make any Vogue call of this nature, extraordinary . The conversation went something like this...“Oscar de la Renta is looking for someone to make jewelry for his runway.” Sholom showed him some very dramatic necklaces, which de la Renta immediately decided to use.
The phone rang again. This time it was Bill Blass who saw Sholom's work in Women's Wear Daily and wanted to connect with her, and did. Sholom recalls when Karl Lagerfeld sent his secretary to meet her in Manhattan, only to be jetted off to Paris shortly thereafter for a collaboration with him on one of his shows. There again, Sholom designed exclusive jewelry. "It was like having the tiger by the tail, and opened up a new world for me," she said. Many other A-listers followed.
Evidence of such appeared at this years Met Gala as worn by director Julie Dash. Dash selected Tess Sholom’s Circe’s Circle necklace as covered by the Associated Press. Photo: Getty
Click on the above image to learn more about the King Arthur Necklace by Tess Sholom Designs. ©2022 Tess Sholom All Rights Rsereved.
The Human Metal
A Wealth-X Private member recently said, “I want to see and feel my investment, be it around my neck, wrist, finger or all of the above. I like a bit of weight to my jewelry but platinum is just too heavy for me. Gold, on the other hand provides a form of jewelry balance to me. I dislike feather-weight designs and tend to purchase larger, statement pieces and gold offers just the right presence. It’s just a warmer, more ‘human metal,’ to me.”
The "human metal" has been adorned for ions. It's easy to forget how the gold of today may have come from ancient gold. Various gold jewelry designs at market presently, stemmed from being melted from gold jewelry or gold coins in "another life." Tess Sholom said it best, "Gold never disappears. The gold I am wearing could be thousands of years old."
Tess Sholom’s bespoke jewelry may be purchased at The Jewelry Bar, Mayfair Rocks in East Hampton; Mahnaz Collection, Madison Avenue, NYC ; or from Wealth-X partner Luxe Licensing . Wealth-X does not endorse or represent any product or service presented editorially and we do not gain any form of sales commission resulting from the possible sale of any item (s) linked to any retail or e-tail publisher. By leaving this site you are fully releasing Wealth-X, our affiliates, partners and Wealth-X Private members from any liability which may arise from any actions taken on any other site or location.
