fortenna - a combination of the words:

"forte" - a nod to my love of music, and the idea of being strong, bold, and believing in yourself.

"enna" - my first name Anne spelled backwards

fortenna® jewelry is designed and created by Anne Nichelson, a jewelry artist specializing in
sculptural wax carving and metalsmithing.

“I design styles that you can cherish without compromise -- jewelry that you can deeply love and live in while embracing the everyday.” - Anne


Anne creates wearable designs that blend delicate beauty with lived-in comfort - perfect for wearing and loving everyday.

Anne has loved jewelry for as long as she can remember—creating clay brooches as a child for her mother and bringing home special pieces for inspiration when traveling. A few years ago she began immersing herself in the jewelry world. She set up her Massachusetts studio and as she worked in the jewelry industry and took jewelry courses, she found herself drawn to the transformative nature of wax sculpting.

By hand carving and shaping designs, she transforms raw wax into stunning pieces of jewelry - embracing the freedom to go in bold, raw, and unexpected directions.

The sculpting process allows for organic shapes and unexpected textures, a testament to the beauty of letting go. The idea of wabi-sabi inspires Anne's aesthetic, celebrating authenticity and the beauty of imperfection through asymmetry, simplicity, and intimacy.