Close-up of hands fastening a granulated gold toggle clasp on a Tahitian pearl necklace

The Process

Made today as yesterday

Sharona Wolff at her workbench soldering, surrounded by hand tools mounted on the workshop wall

Hand fabrication is not just a production method; it is the vocabulary through which the story is told. Ancient techniques are chosen deliberately, not nostalgically. Atelier Wolff draws on ancient metalsmithing techniques, motifs and lore from ancient civilizations, looking to Assyrian, Etruscan, Roman, Greek, Merovingian and other cultures. Our granulation, chasing and repousse and handmade chains are all made as they have been for thousands of years. The hand is always present in the finished piece.

Granulation

An ancient goldsmithing technique where tiny spheres of gold are placed by hand on a jewel to form patterns or textures. Granulation dates back over 5000 years to the Sumerians and has been found in cultures all over the world including in Etruscan, Greek, Scythian, Silla Kingdom, Shang and Tang dynasties, jewelry and objets d’Art. Once the spheres are placed, the final step is to fuse the golden balls to the surface, a process that requires great skill and can result in the failure of the entire piece. Sharona has mastered this difficult technique and her granulation designs have that beautiful silken texture and unmatched decorative appearance.
Hollow Forms

Most of the hollow, rounded shapes used in Atelier Wolff jewelry are carefully raised from flat sheet of gold. It is a process that can take hours or days, depending on how complex the piece is, and every design is unique. Some forms are undecorated, some are textured, others are decorated with granulation or open wirework designs. All are unique and bear the hand of the goldsmith.
Chains

We have a chain library that is small but mighty of intricate 22 karat gold chains. The (many) hours spent weaving or knitting these chains gives them a substantial, yet sinuous feel. Every curve, weave and fuse is considered

Granulation
An ancient goldsmithing technique where tiny spheres of gold are placed by hand on a jewel to form patterns or textures. Granulation dates back over 5000 years to the Sumerians and has been found in cultures all over the world including in Etruscan, Greek, Scythian, Silla Kingdom, Shang and Tang dynasties, jewelry and objets d’Art. Once the spheres are placed, the final step is to fuse the golden balls to the surface, a process that requires great skill and can result in the failure of the entire piece. Sharona has mastered this difficult technique and her granulation designs have that beautiful silken texture and unmatched decorative appearance.
Hollow Forms
Most of the hollow, rounded shapes used in Atelier Wolff jewelry are carefully raised from flat sheet of gold. It is a process that can take hours or days, depending on how complex the piece is, and every design is unique. Some forms are undecorated, some are textured, others are decorated with granulation or open wirework designs. All are unique and bear the hand of the goldsmith.
Chains
We have a chain library that is small but mighty of intricate 22 karat gold chains. The (many) hours spent weaving or knitting these chains gives them a substantial, yet sinuous feel. Every curve, weave and fuse is considered

Open design sketchbook with hand-drawn jewelry notes, ruby cabochons, and gold pendants engraved with cheetah and griffin motifs inspired by antiquity

The Process

Granulation

Hollow Forms

Chains

Granulation

Hollow Forms

Chains