Emefa Cole (b. 1979) is a London based jewellery designer-maker who is known for her bold, sculptural pieces inspired by the geological processes and textures of the Earth, personal memory and her Ghanaian culture. Born in Sunyani, West-Central Ghana, Cole moved to London when she was 12 years old. She graduated from London Metropolitan University’s Cass School of Art in 2011 with a BA (Hons) in Silversmithing and Jewellery and launched Emefa Cole Inc, in 2012. Cole uses single mine origin gold and 100% recycled silver in all her pieces and stones sourced directly from African gem cutters.

Cole’s Ghanaian heritage and early connection to her homeland form strong themes in her practice, with inspiration coming from across western Africa. She taught herself wax-carving and casts her jewels using the ancient lost-wax technique. A sketch drawing is often the starting point of a design, but she relies on the feel of the wax model in her hand to tell her when it is complete. This wax cast of a ring is from her Vulcan series (2012) which celebrates the wonder of volcanology and the colours, textures, and tones it scores into the landscape. In 2020, the V&A acquired an oxidized silver and gold leaf ring, Vulcan (2012) from this series.

In 2020 and 2023, Emefa returned to Ghana to fulfil her long-held ambition of undertaking an apprenticeship with the royal goldsmith of the Asantahene in Kumasi, to study ancient Ashanti goldsmithing and casting techniques.