A tabletop collection of rare 18th-century English blue john pieces.
Photo: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera
The Collectors: Wes Gordon
Carolina Herrera's creative director has 18th-century Georgian blue john vases, urns, bowls, and obelisks taking pride of place in his New York City home
Wes Gordon. Photo: Courtesy of Wes Gordon
“As a child I literally collected collections,” says Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon of his early penchant for amassing objects of all kinds. What began with “stamps, postcards, Beanie Babies, everything,” he explains, has evolved over the years, from his time studying fashion at Central Saint Martins in London to his current work designing vibrantly colored taffeta and tulle frocks for an exacting, elegant clientele.
Today, his holdings tend to be more refined, with 18th-century Georgian blue john vases, urns, bowls, and obelisks taking pride of place in his New York City home. For the uninitiated, “Blue john is a type of semiprecious fluorite stone that became very popular in England before the mine in Derbyshire was largely depleted,” explains Gordon of the striking mineral distinguished by its purple-blue or yellow hues.
A tabletop collection of rare 18th-century English blue john pieces. Photo: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera
“I am always monitoring auctions, which has become easier than ever”
Wes Gordon
Acquisition strategy: “I am always monitoring auctions, which has become easier than ever, thanks to apps like Invaluable and Liveauctioneers. These are great resources for finding rare blue john pieces.”
Wish list: “A pair of blue john cassolettes by Matthew Boulton from Ronald Phillips in London.”
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Late Fall Issue under the headline “The Collectors.” Subscribe to the magazine.
Cover: A tabletop collection of rare 18th-century English blue john pieces.
Photo: Courtesy of Carolina Herrera
