Hsieh works with antique sellers in the US, England and Germany to find jewelry for De Stijl. Before buying an item, Hsieh considers its workmanship, rarity and authenticity. Signs of the latter include materials and crafting techniques unique to certain periods, as well as hallmarks stamped into silver or gold items. Hsieh says he focuses more on the aesthetics of each piece than brand names or famous designers (though several, including James Avery, David Andersen and Lea Stein, have been or are currently represented in the store) and worries less about running into knock-offs because many of the pieces in De Stijl are not in high enough demand among collectors (like Tiffany pieces, for example) to support a reproduction market.
De Stijl takes its store name from a period in Dutch design known for its abstraction and use of primary colors; one of its most famous members was the artist Piet Mondrian. The first half of the 20th century was perhaps the most dynamic era for design, says Hsieh: “From the early 1920s onwards, designers were very progressive. Every few years or so there would be a shift in aesthetics. It just kept going.”
Hsieh says that many customers are just as intrigued by De Stijl’s unusual decor as they are by the vintage jewelry — if not more so (“A lot of people come in just to look at the space,” he says, laughing).
After discovering the original structure’s idiosyncrasies, Hsieh and Wu decided to enhance the space with wooden cabinets designed to echo Art Deco furniture. They also covered several walls and counters with a patchwork of recycled wood from demolished houses (some still pasted over with old wallpaper or newspapers). Alcoves are filled with items ranging from a vintage Christian Dior plaster head found in an antique store to early 20th-century typewriters gifted by a neighboring shopkeeper.
Hsieh hopes customers will experience a similar sense of serendipity when they walk into his store.
“A lot of them buy jewelry just because it’s pretty, but knowing it has a story behind it is a bonus,” says Hsieh. “Not only do you have something new to wear, but you’ve also bought a piece of history.”
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