Loose Gemstones
Forensically vetted natural corundum, spinel, beryl, and collector rarities for bench jewelers and bespoke designers. Delivered with 0.01 mm caliper tolerances, optical spectroscopy profiles, and 5-day trade memo access.
House of Design Research — Ontario, Canada
Empirical Provenance, Material Forensics & Curated Design Objects.
An independent gemological laboratory and private sourcing archive in Eastern Ontario. Every loose gemstone, period jewel, studio glass vessel, and work on canvas is verified for optical, physical, and historical integrity before release to bench jewelers and private collections.
Architectural Seat & Practice
Grounded in Material Honesty & Empirical Verification.
Operating from a 1947 W. E. Noffke-designed residence constructed in exposed-aggregate Boyd Block masonry in Eastern Ontario, House of Design Research unites an architectural respect for enduring form with disciplined bench forensics.
Rather than relying on dealer assumptions or surface appearances, every gemstone, estate mounting, and decorative object passes through calibrated optical spectroscopy, hydrostatic gravimetry, and inductive alloy profiling before entering our trade and collector catalog.
- Principal & Lead Analyst
- Daniel Herweyer
- Corridor & Dispatch
- South Mountain / Ottawa Valley, ON
- Trade Access
- 5-Day Insured Bench Memo
- Verification Standard
- Non-Destructive Multi-Parameter
Curatorial & Analytical Divisions
INDEX 01 — 05
Vintage & Estate Jewelry
Period-authentic signed and unsigned estate pieces evaluated for alloy integrity, stone origin, and structural craftsmanship—sourced for collectors and restoration specialists.
Studio Art Glass
Mid-century Bohemian, Scandinavian, and North American studio glass—including documented works from Skrdlovice and period master glassmakers—verified for maker attribution and condition.
Fine Art & Paintings
Regional Canadian landscapes, mid-century Caribbean naive works, and curated works on canvas examined under UV and raking light for pigment integrity and historical provenance.
Architectural Housewares
Tactile mid-century decorative objects, sculptural metalwork, and functional design pieces selected for enduring material honesty and spatial presence.