ABOUT

Philippe Rapin

Philippe Rapin, who was initially an 18th-century ceramics specialist, opened his first gallery in 1978 in Paris. After relocating in Brussels and London, Philippe Rapin started traveling to Asia, particularly China, where he conceived the gemstone furniture line known as KAM TIM. His first and iconic creations were made of turquoise cabochons, then followed designs with amber, pyrite, jade and a wide range of rare and precious materials. Philippe Rapin is now located in Paris where he opened Maison Rapin gallery, the official representative and distributor of KAM TIN around the world. Maison Rapin is also specialized in 20th century decorative arts and contemporary design. 

HISTORY OF KAM TIN

The KAM TIN brand, created by Philippe Rapin, is distinguished by its jewelry furniture in precious and semi-precious stones, inspired by the heritage of amateur cabinets of the 16th and 17th centuries, while presenting contemporary lines. These unique or limited edition creations, made by artisan goldsmiths, combine the know-how and the beauty of materials.

It was during a trip to Hong Kong, specifically after visiting a turquoise mine, that the story of KAM TIN began.

Philippe Rapin, who was already an established gallerist on Quai Voltaire and an expert in decorative arts, was amazed by this precious material and the creative possibilities it inspired. He then decided to establish his workshop, KAM TIN, where a distinctly contemporary collection would be born, enhancing semi-precious stones and rare minerals that would become its signature.

The first pieces exhibited in the early 2010s, cabinets adorned with turquoise and amber cabochons, garnered strong interest from collectors. These pieces quickly entered auctions and set records, such as the turquoise sideboard sold for over 200,000 $ at Christie’s in 2012.

New creations followed, always designed by Philippe Rapin and crafted in unique or limited editions by the master craftsmen of the KAM TIN workshop, located in France and Germany. Gradually, KAM TIN’s creations expanded to include other stones such as tiger’s eye, pyrite, agate, jade, and lapis lazuli, complemented by designs in patinated brass and bronze, like the now-iconic Nuage table or the Octopus stool.

Each model, also available as custom-made pieces, is conceived as a jewelry-like furniture that harmonizes the craftsmanship of handwork with the inherent beauty of the materials used.

Today, Maison Rapin exclusively showcases KAM TIN’s creations at 7 Quai de Conti in Paris, as well as at numerous international art fairs and within the most prestigious auction houses in France and abroad (Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Artcurial, Philips, Piasa…).

 

 

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