on the side streets of new york

Swed Masters Workshop — 214 East 82nd StreetSwed Masters has been in business in Israel since 1973, though the Swed family has worked in silver and antiques for far longer. The New York silversmith shop opened on 58th Street in 1991 and moved to the current location in 2010. While they do have a workshop in the back of the office for repairs and small jobs, most of the pieces are made in Jerusalem. As Eli, who runs the New York shop says, the first thing people ask when they see something crafted by Swed Masters is, “What does it do?” Though there are a few single-function objects, including a set of candlesticks made using a combination of modern design and traditional decoration, many of the Judaica pieces are designed with hidden compartments and structural surprises.

To read more, visit Manhattan Sideways (sideways.nyc), created by Betsy Bober Polivy.