Theo Fennell
{{short description|British jewellery designer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Theo Fennell
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Alister Theodore Fennell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age |df=yes|1951|08|08}}
| birth_place = Egypt
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = British
| education = Eton
Byam Shaw School of Art
| occupation = Jewellery and silverware designer
| known for =
| spouse = Louise MacGregor
| children = 2, including Emerald Fennell
| website = {{URL|www.theofennell.com}}
}}
Alister Theodore Fennell (born 8 August 1951){{Cite news |last=Mathiason |first=Nick |date=24 December 2006 |title=The king of celebrity bling |work=The Guardian|location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2006/dec/24/theobserver.observerbusiness4 |access-date=2023-11-02}} is a British jewellery and silverware designer. He is often called the "King of Bling" for his flamboyant designs for celebrity clientele. In 1982, he founded Theo Fennell, his eponymous jewellery business.{{Cite news |last=Leroux |first=Marcus |date=1 December 2012 |title=Private equity gets extra time to ponder the beauty of Theo Fennell |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/companies/article/private-equity-gets-extra-time-to-ponder-the-beauty-of-theo-fennell-6tqj37rbd0w |access-date=2023-11-02}} In 2009, he returned to the helm after leaving the company for 18 months. He regained control of the company in 2021.{{Cite news |last=Zhang |first=Tianwei |date=23 November 2021 |title=Britain's Theo Fennell Wants to Keep His Brand Small, and Beautiful: After taking back control of his brand, Fennell has been focusing on bespoke pieces for private clients and nurturing a future generation of British jewelers |page=66 |work=WWD: Women’s Wear Daily |url=https://wwd.com/accessories-news/jewelry/theo-fennell-brand-l-1234997283/ |access-date=2023-11-02 }}
Early life and education
Fennell was born in 1951 in Egypt. He was educated at Eton,{{cite news |title=The king of bling: Theo Fennell on the lunacy of the Noughties |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/the-king-of-bling-theo-fennell-on-the-lunacy-of-the-noughties-6765064.html |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=Evening Standard|location=London |date=10 April 2012}} and then York College of Art, followed by the Byam Shaw School of Art, now part of the University of the Arts London.{{Cite web |last=Peacock |first=Eric |date=July 2018 |title=Theo Fennell: 'There are no shortcuts' |url=https://www.luxury-briefing.com/2018/07/all-that-glitters/ |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Luxury Briefing}}
Career
After art school, Fennell's first job was as an apprentice and designer at Edward Barnard, a long-established silversmiths in Hatton Garden.{{Cite news |date=26 December 2005 |title=Market profile |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/2929035/Market-profile.html |access-date=2023-11-02}} Following his apprenticeship, he formed his first jewellery business in 1974.{{Cite news |date=January 2023 |title=Theo Fennell: A Jeweller with a Passion For Rarity & Beauty |work=Country & Town House |url=https://www.countryandtownhouse.com/style/jewellery-and-watches/theo-fennell-a-jeweller-with-a-passion-for-rarity-beauty/ |access-date=2023-11-02}} In 1982, he opened his first Theo Fennell store at 177 Fulham Road in Chelsea, a location he chose to be closer to his clients. In 1997, he moved his flagship store into the building he helped design at 169 Fulham Road.
File:Theo Fennell, Fulham Rd - geograph.org.uk - 372228.jpg
In 2007, Fennell held an exhibition, Show Off!, at London's Royal Academy of Art, consisting of an array of installations, dioramas, paintings, presentations and sculptures, each showcasing a piece of Fennell's jewellery.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/video|title=Video news and features|website=British Vogue}}
In 2008, Fennell founded The Original Design Partnership, a design consultancy, specialising in jewellery, silver, and curios while also working in other design fields, and mentoring young British designers.{{cite web |url=http://www.theodp.com/ |title=The Original Design Partnership |access-date=2012-08-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118224412/http://www.theodp.com/ |archive-date=18 January 2013 }}
By 2011, Fennell had expanded from jewellery into items such as silver photo frames, cocktail shakers and jugs, with more products in design.{{cite news |last1=Chesters |first1=Laura |title=Spotlight On... Celebrity jeweller, Theo Fennell |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/spotlight-on-celebrity-jeweller-theo-fennell-6277759.html |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=The Independent|location=London |date=16 December 2011}} In 2011, bespoke items, including the Secret Garden ring with yellow gold, paraiba tourmaline, diamond and enamel were listed at £40,000 or more.File:Chelsea Barracks Square Store Front.jpgIn May 2022, Fennell announced that after 25 years, he was to move from 169 Fulham Road to Chelsea Barracks, as the rent had become "ludicrous".{{cite news |last1=Prynn |first1=Jonathan |title='King of Bling' Theo Fennell forced out of Fulham Road flagship |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/king-of-bling-theo-fennell-fulham-road-flagship-chelsea-barracks-b998804.html |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=Evening Standard|location=London |date=9 May 2022}}
Customers have included Elton John, Joan Collins, Elizabeth Hurley, Madonna, and Lady Gaga.{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Leena |title=This Is Theo Fennell's Year |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/jewelry-and-watches/a40118551/theo-fennell-inteview/ |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=Town & Country |date=17 June 2022}}
Honours
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (IPG){{cite web |title=The Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council Awards 2021 |url=https://www.craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk/site_files/6561/upload_files/1917.GCDCAnnual_spreads.pdf?dl=1 |access-date=19 June 2022}}{{cite web |title=Find a Craftsman |url=http://www.ipgoldsmiths.com/find-a-craftsman.html |website=Institute of Professional Goldsmiths |access-date=19 June 2022}} and an ambassador for The Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council.{{cite web |title=Ambassadors |url=https://www.craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk/page/ambassadors/ |website=Craft and Design Council |access-date=19 June 2022}} He is a liveryman of the Goldsmiths Company, and an honorary fellow of the University of the Arts London.{{Cite web |title=Getting to Know: Theo Fennell |url=https://www.roseberys.co.uk/artistandmakers/theo-fennell/profile-and-sold-works-by-roseberys-auctioneers-london?authorview=1 |access-date=2023-11-02 |website=Roseberys London}}
Publications
In 2022, his memoir, I Fear for This Boy: Some Chapters of Accidents, was published.{{cite news |last1=Hogan |first1=Michael |title=Jeweller Theo Fennell: 'Being called the king of bling is better than the prince of darkness' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/apr/10/theo-fennell-jeweller-memoir-fear-for-this-boy-interview |access-date=19 June 2022 |work=The Guardian|location=London |date=10 April 2022}}
Personal life
He lives in London with his wife, Louise (née MacGregor), an author. They have two daughters, Emerald, a writer, actor and director, and Coco, a fashion designer.
References
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Category:Alumni of the Byam Shaw School of Art