Wallace Chan
Wallace Chan is a Hong Kong high jewellery house led by the artist of the same name, who began as a gemstone carver in the 1970s. He is known for the Wallace Cut, titanium jewellery and a porcelain he developed for jewellery.
| Artist | Wallace Chan |
|---|---|
| Base | Hong Kong |
| Career start | Gemstone carving, 1970s |
| Signature | Wallace Cut, titanium, porcelain |
| Website | wallace-chan.com |
What is Wallace Chan?
Wallace Chan is a Hong Kong based jewellery artist and the name of his high jewellery creations. He started out as a gemstone carver in the 1970s and moved into jewellery making in the 1990s.
Products and positioning
Chan's work sits at the intersection of high jewellery and sculpture. His signature innovations include:
- The Wallace Cut, which renders a three dimensional portrait inside a stone
- Pioneering use of titanium in brooches such as Cosmos and A Song for the Future
- The Wallace Chan Porcelain, a material developed for jewellery and described as far harder than steel
His pieces are one-of-a-kind works rather than collections produced at scale, and have appeared at major auction houses.
Exhibitions
Chan has exhibited internationally. During the Venice Biennale he presented Totem at the Fondaco Marcello, a set of titanium and iron sculptures that assemble into a single 32 foot work, and he later brought his Vessels of Other Worlds exhibition to Venice and Shanghai.
Why it matters
Wallace Chan's material research has expanded what is technically possible in high jewellery, and he has received the JNA Outstanding Contribution Award from the jewellery trade.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Wallace Chan?
Wallace Chan is a Hong Kong jewellery artist who began as a gemstone carver in the 1970s and moved into jewellery in the 1990s.
What is the Wallace Cut?
The Wallace Cut is Chan's carving technique that creates a three dimensional portrait inside a gemstone.