The Ófeigur family workshop
“What can I buy that is truly unique to Iceland?” is a question Icelanders often get from visitors. The answer is: Handmade pieces created by local master craftsmen!
On Skólavörðustígur, Reykjavík’s most distinctive shopping street, there is a beautifully restored green timber house from 1881. It houses a family and a family business of master goldsmiths – started by the now deceased family father Ófeigur, his son Bolli is now at the helm carrying on his legacy – as well as a master dressmaker, Hildur, the wife and mother. Here they each have their own small working spaces where they design and make their very unique pieces; Bolli works mostly using metals such as gold, silver and titanium with different kinds of Icelandic stones, lava or imported stones like his father did. Hildur makes her pieces out of soft materials, with hats being her speciality. Each hat is unique and handmade from wool and lined with cotton. Most have a drawstring for adjusting the size. When Bolli was growing up, his father had his workshop at home, so Bolli got to try his jewellery-making skills at a very early age, which led him to study the art and become a master goldsmith like his father. There is a piece on display in the shop that he made when he was 8 years old. Goldsmiths in Iceland study their craft in such a way that they can easily sit down at a 200 year-old goldsmith’s workbench and start working, such are their skills. Today more modern tools are used but almost everything is still made by hand, so each piece is unique. Ófeigur was also an artist and, among other things, he made big sculptures that can be seen on the walls of the shop. He also refers to his pieces of jewellery as sculptures – just on a smaller scale.
When Hillary Clinton visited Iceland some years ago she was given a copper brooch made by Ófeigur that Madeleine Albright saw and liked so much that she bought four; three made by the father and one by the son. The next time Albright was seen on international TV, she was wearing one of the beautiful brooches. (There is also a thank you letter from Mrs Clinton on the wall in the shop). These signature brooches of Ófeigur’s workshop, each one unique, can still be bought at the shop. Bolli can make jewellery to order. Bolli likes to make jewellery pieces out of titanium, which is lighter than silver, never tarnishes and does not cause any allergic reactions. He uses other metals and materials as well. For example, he makes necklaces with old Icelandic symbols for magic spells and for the wayfarer, to help him find his way safely, even in bad weather. Bolli likes to pick up rocks out in nature and make them into unique items. He also uses lava in his jewellery, sometimes from Iceland’s latest volcanic eruptions. Bolli had an idea for jewellery in the manner of the Northern Lights but he needed beads in those colours, so he asked Troll Beads if they could make them. They didn’t think it would be possible but, within about 4 months, they had managed to make beautiful Northern Lights coloured beads which Bolli now uses in his jewellery.
Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that a new art exhibition is put on display on the second floor every month, so all lovers of art and craftsmanship who want to experience something uniquely Icelandic, should not miss a visit to the green house at the bottom of Skólavörðustígur. Best of all, they will be sure to meet some of the members of this skilled Icelandic family. 
Ofeigur
Skólavörðustígur 5, 101 Reykjavík
+354 551 1161
http://ofeigur.is/
[email protected]
