The Heritage of Kostylo Atelier – Where Craft Becomes Ritual
HERITAGE is an archive of forms that shaped the atelier’s visual language – a record of craft, symbolism and material discipline from which the present identity of Kostylo Atelier has evolved. From a family foundry to a contemporary atelier, heritage is carried forward through material, memory and the hand.
From a Family Foundry to a Contemporary Atelier
The roots of Kostylo Atelier reach into a family tradition shaped by metal, fire and material discipline. Across generations, raw materials were transformed into objects of function, ornament and lasting presence – from blacksmithing and furniture enriched with pearl and marble to increasingly refined forms of metalwork and goldsmithing. This lineage forms part of the foundation on which the atelier works today.
A Legacy of Craft Passed Through Generations
The atelier carries forward a tradition built through knowledge, discipline and respect for material. Skills and ways of working were transmitted across generations, shaped by changing circumstances and lived experience. What remains is not the repetition of the past, but a continuity of attention: patience, resilience and the pursuit of precision through the hand.
Craft as Ritual, Material as Memory
At Kostylo Atelier, craftsmanship is approached as a deliberate process. Casting, chasing, polishing, gilding and stone shaping are carried out through successive stages, each leaving a physical trace within the finished object. Bronze, brass, silver and selected stones – including striped flint, malachite, nephrite, jadeite, amber and chrysoprase – are chosen for their material character, symbolic resonance and permanence. Through this process, material becomes memory, and memory is given form.
Classical Techniques, Contemporary Vision
The atelier brings historical techniques into contemporary form. No two works are conceived as repetitions of one another. Each object develops through time, proportion and repeated refinement, with the precision and discipline associated with fine metalwork and jewellery. Mass production has no place in this process. Value is built through material knowledge, authorship and the accumulated gesture of the hand.
A Living Legacy
Kostylo Atelier preserves heritage not by reproducing it, but by allowing it to evolve. Each work carries forward techniques, material knowledge and ways of seeing shaped across generations, while remaining firmly rooted in the present. Historical disciplines become a foundation for new forms, new proportions and new meanings.
The Heritage Archive
The Heritage Archive presents a selection of earlier works that shaped my visual language and material discipline. These pieces document the evolution of form, craft and intention – the foundations from which today’s Kostylo Atelier has grown.
Heritage – the lineage that shaped me
Heritage is not a story of the past – it is a living discipline.
HERITAGE COMMISSIONS
Commissioned works created in response to a specific vision, institution or patron. Each piece reflects the dialogue between craftsmanship, identity and individual purpose.
Koko Camden - commissioned sculptural identity
This piece was created as an individual commission for Koko Camden. Crafted in brass, with each ring finished in a different patina - from full polish to the deepest dark finish - it reimagined the institution’s emblem as a sculptural form. Every layer was shaped and refined by hand, forming a harmonious elliptical structure with a strong material presence.
Letter Logo with Clock - A sculptural letterform with an integrated clock
The piece explores the relationship between symbol, time and material presence.
Brass Perforated Corporate Plaque - An openwork plaque shaped through precise casting
The piece reflects the atelier’s interest in emblematic forms interpreted through metal.
HERITAGE MASTERWORKS
Landmark works that define the atelier’s heritage. Through sculpture, lighting and ornament, these pieces established the technical and artistic foundations of today’s Kostylo Atelier.
Figural Chandelier - handcrafted heritage piece
This figural chandelier was cast in solid brass and finished in an old-bronze patina. At its center sit three hand-modelled putti, positioned among ornamental arms decorated with leaf and vine motifs. Each component - from the sculpted figures to the detailed armwork - was crafted individually using traditional atelier techniques, giving the piece the character of a refined, classical lighting object.
Arcade Chandelier - an ornamental brass light sculpture
Deer-Head Chandelier - figural heritage piece
This chandelier was crafted in cast brass as a figural lighting object. Its central structure features three hand-modelled deer heads, complemented by ornamental chains and frosted glass shades set in vine‑shaped holders. Each detail was cast, chased and assembled individually, giving the piece the character of a unique sculptural object rooted in traditional craftsmanship.
Arcade Chandelier - handcrafted six-sided piece
This six-sided arcade chandelier was designed and fully crafted in the atelier, from the initial concept to the final object. The brass structure is silver-soldered, fitted with beveled glass panels, and patinated to a deep, dignified old-bronze finish. With four interior light points and meticulously hand-finished details, it represents a rare example of architectural lighting executed entirely in traditional workshop techniques.
Monumental Brass Chandelier - A sculptural brass chandelier shaped by hand
The piece examines architectural scale, proportion and material presence within a suspended form.
Palace Chandelier - figural heritage piece
This chandelier was created as an individual commission in cast brass. The central sphere is adorned with three hand-modelled musician figures, complemented by classical palace-style arms and ornamental detailing. Each component was cast, chased and assembled separately, forming a rare example of sculptural lighting where craftsmanship and art merge into a single monumental form.
Bronze Bust - patinated heritage piece
Acanthus Relief - handcrafted brass piece
This acanthus relief was designed in the atelier and cast in solid brass. Patinated to an old-bronze finish and hand-chased, it presents a classical ornamental form shaped through precise manual work. Every line and surface transition was shaped individually, reflecting traditional craftsmanship and sculptural discipline.
Heavenly Gates / Imperial Gates - A sculptural interpretation of ceremonial gates
The piece draws from 19th-century artisanal traditions, exploring ornamental structure and symbolic threshold.
Three Life-Size Horse Sculptures - Sculptural interpretations of Sztum horses
The forms explore anatomical rhythm, movement and presence within monumental scale.
Figural Candelabra - Nike Victoria - Tall candelabra figures depicting Nike Victoria
Patinated surfaces and gilded candle holders create a dialogue between gesture and ornament.
Skirt Belt with Striped Flint - A sculptural belt with a striped flint stone
The piece reflects the atelier’s dialogue between traditional metalwork and contemporary form.
Belt Buckle “Large Butterfly” - A sculptural buckle shaped as a butterfly
Hand-formed wings and a striped flint stone create a dialogue between organic symmetry and mineral structure.
Belt Buckle “Small Butterfly” - A small sculptural butterfly buckle
The form balances delicacy and structure, with each wing shaped by hand. The striped flint stone introduces a natural focal point.
Gilded Belt Buckle with Striped Flint - A sculptural buckle with a striped flint stone
The form balances mineral presence with hand-shaped metal surfaces.
Coco-Inspired Belt Buckle - A sculptural buckle combining emblematic form with striped flint
The piece examines the interplay between symbol, material and proportion.
Pair of Patinated Brass Lamps - Sculptural lamps with marble bases
The composition balances mass, geometry and material contrast.