Spotlight: Lannah Dunn
With the recent opening of Lannah Dunn’s flagship store on Russell Street, it’s fair to say, the future is brilliant at Lannah Dunn.
Published 14 Nov 2024
Written by: Leonie Hart
With the recent opening of Lannah Dunn’s flagship store on Russell Street, Leonie Hart reflects on how this iconic jeweller merges timeless elegance with a forward-looking vision.
If playing dress-up with her mother's jewellery collection as a child was a pretty good tip-off that jewellery would play a significant role in Lannah Dunn's future; it was growing up surrounded by women who instilled in her a love for art, history, and the performing arts - that really set it on fire.
‘Not just was jewellery something of beauty to wear, or behold. No, this was art, and in the case of antique jewellery, each piece embued with the romanticism of the history it has seen, the memories that it carries and the stories that it tells.’
Travelling extensively as a teenager, Lannah vividly recalls the moments of being transfixed as she watched the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, of being in awe of the magnificent architecture and the beauty of the operas, galleries, and museums she visited. Viewing the stunning, historic jewels collection in the Russian Kremlin only reinforced for her the unique role that jewellery played in marking and celebrating history, creating a narrative that spans generations.
Fast forward to today, and for over 40 years, the name Lannah Dunn has been a fixture in the jewellery industry, synonymous with the timeless allure of exquisite, antique pieces.
Passionate that jewellery is more than a fashion statement, Lannah extolls how each piece carries a tangible link to the past, “bearing witness to the many facets of our lives, antique jewellery holds hidden romances, memories and stories”.
From the classic and refined aesthetic of Georgian and Victorian jewels to the opulence of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and French Belle Époque pieces, Lannah was confident there were like-minded women who would love and deeply appreciate the artistry and soul of such pieces. The artistic legacy of the past, coupled with authentic craftsmanship, became the perfect foundation for first opening a boutique back in 1985, specialising in antique jewellery. And she was right.
Now boasting a clientele which spans the globe and LD devotees who seek out both the beauty and rarity of their designs, and their iconic looks such as the ‘Neckmess’; it’s fair to say the future is brilliant at Lannah Dunn.
“Searching for that perfect piece [is like a] treasure hunt filled with excitement and anticipation…connecting [people] with their dream pieces . . . it’s one the most rewarding parts of what we do”
And it’s this ethos, that has seen the business continue to bloom.
Unveiling their new boutique in the iconic Tattersalls Arcade in Brisbane earlier this year, and their recent relocation and expansion into their new Toowoomba premises are both part of their committment to both preserving history whilst embracing the future.
Their new home at the historic 14 Russell Street in Toowoomba for example, now houses an onsite, state of the art workshop, for those looking for one-of-a-kind pieces more grounded in the 21st Century. Whilst the stunning art-deco shop-front stays grounded in their roots of curating the exquisite antique heirlooms for which Lannah Dunn have become known.
A space designed to foster creativity, and meet the demands of a new generation seeking bespoke pieces whilst also upholding their commitment to sustainability.
With daughters Eala and Bridie following in Lannah’s footsteps, a strong connection with Europe’s fashion houses, and a unique insight into where the Australian jewellery scene is heading in the next five to ten years, the Lannah Dunn of the future remains synonymous with historical elegance and timeless craftsmanship.
