Donna Chambers

At 74 years old, Donna Chambers physical status not available right now. We will update Donna Chambers's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Chambers married jeweler Irving Williams in 1976. She took over his Brooklyn jeweler repair business upon his death in 1978. Donna Chambers Designs was established in 1981 to create and manufacture 14-karat gold and cultured pearl fine jewelry. Later, a line of porcelain cameos featuring African American women were added as well as a line of antique mother-of-pearl Chinese gambling chips further enhanced with pearls. The poker chips, which form the centerpieces of bracelets, earrings and pendants, date from the Ching Dynasty and typically bear family crests or initials on one side and a drawing engraved with some aspect of Chinese life on the other. Chambers came across the poker chips by accident. "I'm known as the pearl lady . . . My work has always been of pearl, whether freshwater or cultured. I use a lot of mother of pearl, abalone, and mabes. I was in Tucson [about 1988] . . . and I did a double take," Chambers said, "I saw these mother-of-pearl, beautiful carved pieces...I picked up a few and made two or three pins with them."

In 1990, Chambers opened That Old Black Magic Book and Gift Gallery, a Westchester, New York gift shop featuring African American gift items, art, greeting cards and books. The works of over 50 artists and designers were featured in the store. A monthly book club sponsored by the shop featured readings by Arthur Ashe, Nikki Giovanni, Bernice L. McFadden, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and Iyanla Vanzant. The shop closed after 20 years.

Source

• National Women's Jewelry Association Award for Manufacturing Excellence - 1992