Old Artificial Limb Co. building’s transformation continues with Facet and Form luxury body jewelry studio

The transformation of a 117-year-old Capitol Hill commercial building will continue this spring with the creation of a new studio dedicated to the transformation of the human form with luxury body adornment and reverent tattoo.

Facet and Form is taking shape in the auto row-era building once home to American Artificial Limb Co. but transformed coming out of the pandemic by Coldwell Banker Bain into new offices and neighborhood natural wine bar Otherworld.

The new body jewelry studio, retail, and tattoo venture is being shaped by a trio of industry veterans — Madeleine Mae, Tyler Determan, and Colin O.

Mae says the group has been working together at another studio and is now ready to set out on their own.

“We’re not leaving on a whim,” Mae tells CHS. “We’re leaving because we had to, and because we’re ready to build something that reflects what this community actually deserves.”

The ambitious plans included a buildout along the 14th Ave side of the building for the new shop with space for jewelry displays and artist suites. Adding transformation on top of transformation, the project also required a complicated “change of use” with city permits as it created new retail space.

Situated on the southern edge of 14th Ave’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church campus and massive parking lot, the two-story building stood empty for a few years before its 2021 overhaul after arts venue nomad Love City Love pulled out of the space in 2019.

Seattle artist Ben Zamora’s Gathering sculpture — provided by the public art funds part of the RapidRide G bus line project along Madison — stands in front of the building

Previously, the building was home to the prosthetics sales company Artificial Limb Co. and, later, the Electric Tea Garden, a Capitol Hill hangout and nightlife venue that straddled the line between nightclub and underground club.

Long ago around 1916, Jacob A. Stavik Grocery called it home.

Now, the building is ready to add a new space for the new Capitol Hill.

“We know that fine body jewelry is an investment meant to last. That’s why we offer resources on jewelry care, sizing, and styling, along with insights into emerging trends in the world of luxury body jewelry,” Facet and Form’s trio says about the project. “Whether you’re new to piercing jewelry or a seasoned collector, we’re here to share our knowledge and expertise.”

Facet and Form is planning a “spring” opening at 1401 E Madison. Learn more at facetandformseattle.com.

$5 A MONTH TO HELP KEEP CHS PAYWALL-FREE

Subscribe to CHS to help us hire writers and photographers to cover the neighborhood. CHS is a pay what you can community news site with no required sign-in or paywall. To stay that way, we need you. Become a subscriber to help us cover the neighborhood for $5 a month — or choose your level of support