Those attuned to spirituality have long appreciated the deep bond between the natural world and personal well-being, and are no strangers to wearing stones in hopes of imbuing some of its healing energies. Through the use of these minerals and crystals, Sten Studio, based in Mexico City, delves into the mysteries of these natural phenomena, merging their inherent beauty with modern design, which can be seen in their latest collection aptly titled Cosmic Relics. By incorporating these elements, the studio creates contemporary furniture and bespoke decorative objects that embody both aesthetics and spirituality.
The studio thrives on collaboration, working locally and internationally to source complex and diverse mineral structures. Every phase of their design process is a collective effort involving suppliers, fabricators, and manufacturers, ensuring each concept is developed with shared expertise. This spirit of collaboration is manifested in the Cosmic Relics collection in the form of symbolic totems. Totems, seen as spirit guardians or ancestors, symbolize connections with the paranormal and a sense of belonging. Cultures often attribute divine meanings to cosmic phenomena and planetary alignments, viewing them as significant, transformative events.
Inspired by this, Sten Studio’s totems represent unity and collective identity, encouraging a reshaping of reality. The collection features a diverse array of materials, including lava stone, pink onyx, blue calcite, travertine marble, brown onyx, fluorite, golden Calacatta marble, pineapple onyx, and stainless steel. Each stone’s unique characteristics and colors represent the vastness of the universe, mirroring the diverse societies within our own planet.
In describing the totems, José Miguel Schaider of Sten Studio remarks: “Chiseled, polished, raw, geometric, sculptural, organic, complex, simple, diverse, colorful, monochromatic, unique, different, solid, and delicate are some adjectives to describe the Cosmic Relics totems. Each of them is handcrafted, and each element is a different story; different techniques and hardness, a different relationship with each. We love their own identity and the celebration of diversity. They are serious and yet playful and joyful. A world within a world, we were lucky to find an endless source to think differently and to create.”
Photography courtesy of Sten Studio.
