British Silver Week 2011

03 May 2011

“Contemporary silversmithing is enjoying a renaissance in the UK,” says Gordon Hamme, the managing director of British Silver Week, “In the last three hundred years there have never been more talented working silversmiths in the UK. The teaching by the art colleges of traditional silversmithing skills combined with contemporary design ideas has produced a remarkable group of modern silversmiths.”

British Silver Week  2011 ‘Festival of Silver’

The Goldsmiths’ Company is lead Patron

This year the five-day ‘Festival of Silver’, 9 - 13 May, at the fine art gallery Pangolin London highlights the depth and breadth of contemporary silversmithing. “The first day is great fun with all 100 British Silver Week silversmiths showing their work and having a get-together,” says Hamme. This is followed by four more days of themed exhibitions featuring many of Britain’s finest silversmiths and enamellers.

The Birmingham Assay Office will showcase Midlands-based silversmiths, on 29th June for one day, including the newly-qualified Theresa Ngyuen who has had a one-woman show throughout the summer at Kedleston Hall sponsored by the Goldsmiths’ Company.
De Vroomen, Garrard and William & Son make up a superb triumvirate in Mayfair with shows including the multi-award-winning enameller Fred Rich and master craftsman Steve Wager, formerly of Asprey and now self-employed, producing fantastic work to commission and from his own very individual designs. Rebecca Joselyn shows for the first time at William & Son her quirky, fun pieces of silverware including her ‘crushed jug’. Wally Gilbert, with his great in-depth familial knowledge of the arts and crafts movement, will have work at De Vroomen.

Payne & Son in Tunbridge Wells have a fantastic tradition of selling silverware, both antique and contemporary and are huge supporters of British Silver Week and the ethic of supporting up-and-coming young silversmiths. John Higgins Contemporary Silver commissions and encourages all his silversmiths to create unique pieces for his exhibitions aimed at his exclusive group of clients.

From 2 – 31 July for the first time Hamilton & Inches and The Scottish Gallery in Edinburgh will collaborate on joint exhibitions of Scotland’s finest silversmiths and also embrace the best of English silversmithing and enamelling. The H&I apprentices, David Ramsay and Jamie Hamper will, uniquely, have their work shown at The Scottish Gallery. The London retail boutique of Hamilton & Inches will simultaneously hold an exhibition of British contemporary silversmiths. These events are being sponsored by the Scottish Assay Office.

Selling events start from 6 June at:

Birmingham Assay Office – 29th June (one day only)
De Vroomen (Mayfair)
Garrard (Mayfair)
Hamilton & Inches (Edinburgh)
Hamilton & Inches (London)
John Higgins Contemporary Silver (Sussex)
Payne & Son (Goldsmiths) Ltd (Tunbridge Wells)
The Scottish Gallery (Edinburgh) 2 July – 31 July
Sheffield Assay Office
Urban Armour Ltd (Burnham Market, Norfolk)
William & Son (Mayfair)

www.britishsilverweek.co.uk