About

Office of Acquisitions is concerned with the selection of objects that carry cultural life. They move through time, accumulating marks of use, decisions of craft, and traces of the people who lived with them.

OoA was founded by Elise Friedman, a London-based jewellery designer and a long-time student of objects. After studying at Università Ca’Foscari in Venice, she developed a lasting appreciation for the relationship between history, craftsmanship, and culture. Elise’s interest in such things traces back to her great-grandparents, who travelled the world sourcing pieces for collection and sale in Detroit. From them she inherited an instinct for things that endure time and human touch.

Today Elise selects for character, craftsmanship, and provenance. Each piece is personally sourced, then documented and photographed in London. Alongside founding her eponymous jewellery brand in London’s historic jewellery quarter, she established Office of Acquisitions as a space for collectors and sellers alike. The guiding principle is simple: objects acquire meaning through use and attention. The most meaningful things are not merely acquired; they are lived with and carried forward.