EC One chats with Tina Lilienthal

Meet jewellery designer Tina Lilienthal, our favourite designer-du-jour, who makes quirky jewellery featuring little skulls and tiny rabbit heads. It’s dark and a little creepy, but sweetened up with splashes of colour from hot pink lacquer.

We caught up with Tina to find out what inspires her collections, and her plans for 2010…

EC One: Tina Lilienthal jewellery has an unmistakeable style and quirk – how best would you describe it?
Tina Lilienthal:  Hmm I’d have to say bold, fun, sexy, playful, cheeky… and of course  ‘dead cute’!

EC One: What inspired your skull and rabbit necklaces? The overall look us dark but cute at the same time, something which really works well…
TL: The skull is a reminder of our mortality and the rabbit stands for fertility, two easily understated yet fundamental aspects in life. The rabbit also makes a reference to Alice in Wonderland, always a favourite, where nothing is as it seems and strange things happen. The scale of this collection came natural to making it more cute, feminine and wearable.

EC One: Do you have a favourite Tina Lilienthal collection or particular design?
TL: At the moment my favourite pieces has got to be my large skull necklace with antlers and butterfly: a bit scary, a bit sweet, like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale!

EC One: What do you think people love about your work? It’s certainly got some charm..!
The boldness, symbolism, its colours and meaning, references to life, death, sex all in a playful, cute way with attitude. All which are the essence of the Tina Lilienthal DNA and how instantly recognisable the pieces are.

EC One: So, to round up, any exciting jewellery plans for Tina Lilienthal jewellery during 2010/11?
TL: All I’ll say is hot pink and something a bit creepier….!

Tina in a flash!

Skulls or rabbits?     Inevitably both!

Pink or Black?    Sqweel! (It made Tina think of piglets!)
London or Paris?     London, please!
Diamonds or pearls?     Plastic!
Favourite London hangout?    T Bar in London’s Houdsditch
Favourite London shop?    KidRobot (great for Japanese vinyl toys!)
Favourite cocktail?     Definitely red wine
Most treasured possession?
Two toy skeletons I picked up in Bangkok. They can play the guitar and roll their eyes!