Temple St. Clair’s Dreamy New Boutique in Meatpacking Is an Ode to Florentine Beauty

Now one of the last remaining jewelers to work directly with the master artisans of the centuries-old Florentine goldsmiths’ guild, it makes perfect sense that St. Clair would team up with Florentine craftsmen to bring her vision to life. “I’ve been collaborating with Italian artisans for four decades,” she says. “This shop is a merging of my Florence life and New York.” 

Inside, a wunderkummer awaits, filled with St. Clair’s inspirations, musings, and unique vision. Immediately upon entering, one feels a deep sense of serenity, with walls washed in hand-finished celestial Temple Blue. In the center of the shop, in a large solid-wood oval table topped with glass and burnished brass, lies the full extent of St. Clair’s jewelry collections. Presented almost like an art vitrine in a gallery, the jewels are surrounded by watercolor sketches and drawings, giving insight into the fascinating process of an artist’s mind.

Here, visitors can peruse everything from her signature Rock Crystal amulets to pieces from the Celestial and Tree of Life collections. Also on view are a selection of limited edition and high jewelry pieces, once only available by private appointment. In addition, there are personalized amulets, and limited-edition colored gemstone pieces, as well a selection of archival jewels only available from this location.

Just as with the jewelry, every element of the design has been thought out—from the wood to metal to marble, and of course gold, St. Clair’s go-to material. “I’m much more comfortable working in a collaboration because that is what I have been doing my entire life,” says the designer. “Riccardo Barthel & C. has a very distinct point of view and they use found objects and do new things but always keeping a connection with the past, which is what I do.” 

The architects added that the “project is meant to be like a primer given to a canvas on which Temple will spread her colors, and draw her ideas; the sought-after combination in the elements and forms of furnishings is the code of the project that will take on life and warmth in the time to come, with the ongoing introduction of inspirations that will be infused into it.”

Special clients are invited for private appointments inside the back room, which is separated by iron and glass sliding doors inspired by Florentine wintergardens such as the Limonaia behind the Palazzo Pitti. Throughout the space, treasures abound, mostly sourced from St. Clair’s travels, including a pair of Gustavian antique chairs found at DeGournay in Paris with seats covered in Ishibilia fabric from Lorenzo Castillo.

“I am trying to be forward looking but I have a deep respect for history and for artisans,” says St. Clair, who hopes to host art exhibitions in the space eventually too. “I wanted the boutique to be personal and not cookie cutter. I wanted hidden discoveries and details.”