The Kam Tin story began in Hong Kong in the 1970s, founded by Mr Yin Zing Luk, a Chinese businessman from Kaifeng. His grandfather, one of the emperor’s representatives, was sent to southern China, where the family subsequently relocated and set up a large textile dye business.
When the Japanese invaded, the family fled to Hong Kong. Ying Zing Luk took refuge in Kam Tin (which means fields of gold and silver) in the New Territories. At that time, the family fortune was kept hidden away in a turquoise-encrusted jewellery box. This precious and closely guarded object would later provide inspiration for the young Yin Zing.
After the war, family life returned to normal and Yin Zing went to England, returning to Hong Kong three years later. Such was the success of the family business that Yin Zing had no need to work. He indulged in his passion for poetry, design, and architecture by designing furniture and other items. He had a particular love of semi-precious stones which he enjoyed using to decorate some of the furniture he made for a Chinese clientele fascinated with the symbolism of gemstones as a source of wealth and good fortune… And so, calling on the most highly skilled craftsmen, Yin Zing created a number of unique gilded brass pieces decorated with cabochons and cut gemstones. These pieces became a private family collection. Their story came to an end in the mid-1980s and 1989 saw the death of Kam Tin’s founder.
In 2008, following a number of trips to Hong Kong, gallery owner Philippe Rapin decided to buy out Kam Tin as to re-launch production, restore vintage furniture, and put the pieces on display in his 88-Gallery, at 25 Quai Voltaire, in Paris’ 7th arrondissement.
Agate, amber, turquoise, emerald, pyrite, rock crystals… Nothing is too rare for Kam Tin, the “meubles bijoux” brand whose exceptional furniture, decorated with a choice of stones from China, India, Korea and even Russia, is produced by expert craftsmen in a workshop in Germany. Their tables, console tables, cabinets, etc., fascinate collectors and lovers of curiosities the world over.
Philippe Rapin
1978: Fascinated by antiques since he was a child, Philippe Rapin opened his first shop in Auxerre, specialising in ceramics.
Fin des années 80: He opened a gallery on the Rue du Bac, in Paris. Now an expert in his field, he took part in two “Biennale” exhibitions.
1993: Philippe Rapin teamed up with Jean-Claude Guérin to open a cabinet of curiosities on the Quai Voltaire, in Paris.
2003: Indulging his passion for 20th century decorative arts, he founded the Galerie 146, in Brussels.
2009: He left Brussels for London where he opened the 88-Gallery on Pimlico Road with Erik Müllendorff. The gallery places a special emphasis on Italian post-war design: Gio Ponti, Max Ingrand, Ignazio Gardella, Ico Parisi, and Fontana Arte.
2012: 88-Gallery was opened on the Quai Voltaire, in Paris, showcasing furniture and object designers such as Kam Tin (meubles bijoux), Robert Goossens (designer for Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent), along with works by the British artist, Marc Cavell.
Practical information
88-Gallery Paris
25 Quai Voltaire
75007 Paris – France
