One of the wonderful things about meeting jewellery designers is how much of themselves they can pour into their designs and creations. This struck me particularly about Swedish-Belgian Inger Friberg of Inger Studio…
During my visit, Inger showed me how she creates a ring. Starting with carving into wax, Inger experiments with creating textures into melted wax with a set of tools; the returned casted piece she solders and polishes until ready. See further down for different parts of this process… see if you can spot the cinemagraph!
INGER’S PIECES
Based in a Hackney studio space creating her pieces and selling online, Inger’s extraordinary passion for her work is plain to see. Her pieces are minimal but thoughtful and interestingly different – I love how her signet rings and circles are gently imperfect, organic shapes that have a strong sense of authenticity about them. Using ethically sourced stones and recycled metal where possible, Inger works with London goldsmiths to bring her designs to life. She says herself “Not being formally trained, I think ‘Why not? That could work!'” while showing me a ring she’s working on, experimenting with setting the stones straight into the wax.
AUSTRALIA
Moving to Melbourne, in 2015, Inger launched her first collection while based in a small studio in a community of close-knit jewellery makers. Initially she was very drawn to delicate pieces, like the stacking ring. She loves textures and making pieces that looked real and organic.
BEFORE
Before starting Inger Studio, Inger worked in insurance in Canary Wharf. Not a big fan of wearing suits and the structure, in 2008 she went travelling for a year. She told me how important the freedom and opening up her mind was to her. Craving something creative, she opened a vintage clothing shop on ASOS marketplace before taking evening courses in jewellery at Central St Martins.
SHE WEARS
Inger never used to wear jewellery before, but now is strongly connected to the jewellery she wears – she never takes off a stack of rings on her middle finger. She made a beautiful one-off silver piece entirely of tiny links which she wears on her first finger (see below) and wears an unpolished silver piece around a piece of string on her neck, which she loves for its roughness.
A DUALITY
Like many of us, Inger recognises a duality in herself, drawn to more delicate pieces but also to less refined, roughly hewn pieces, something she wants to explore more in her making. Inger sees jewellery as an investment and enjoys making bespoke or limited edition pieces, ensuring uniqueness.
All shot by myself on Olympus Pen F with 17mm lens, 45mm and 30mm macro lens
