Get to know us

— Studio Foundations

Services & History

Culture

Ethos

Founded by Merva Afşar, originally from Istanbul and now based in Brooklyn, New York, our studio creates jewelry in gold and silver, incorporating precious gemstones and vitreous enamel. Our process is rooted in traditional metalsmithing, wax carving, and lost-wax casting. We work closely with the materials, carving, shaping, assembling, and refining each piece by hand. We embrace the marks of the making process, allowing subtle irregularities and textures to become part of the finished design.

We're fascinated by the way people once drew and interpreted the world around them. Medieval woodcuts, antique European emblems, folk imagery, and early decorative arts are recurring references in our work. We're particularly drawn to the peculiar anatomy of historical figures, the strange logic of symbolic imagery, and the freedom with which artists combined the ordinary and the imaginary. Rather than reproducing historical designs, we reinterpret their visual language through our own sculptural approach, creating pieces that feel connected to the past without belonging to it.

We believe precious materials deserve to be valued, reused, and transformed. Recycled gold and repurposed gemstones are an important part of our approach, allowing existing materials to take on new forms and stories. We appreciate the character and history that older materials can carry, whether it's gold melted down for a new creation or a gemstone given a second life. By working in small quantities and making thoughtful use of the materials available to us, we aim to create jewelry that is considered in both its design and its making. Our intention is simple: to make pieces worth keeping, repairing, and passing on.