News & Events

SIDE x SIDE: EDGE > EDGE at the Royal Cornwall Museum (http://www NULL.royalcornwallmuseum NULL.org NULL.uk/) – 18 September – 6 November 2010

Our exciting, groundbreaking exhibition of silverware is to be staged at the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro – its first UK venue.

“We feel extremely privileged to be providing the first UK venue for SIDE x SIDE: EDGE > EDGE,” said Hilary Bracegirdle, Director of the Royal Cornwall Museum. “It is an exceptional collection of modern silverware that attracted large numbers of visitors when it was shown in Finland. We expect similar levels of interest here.”

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A one day Silversmithing Workshop run by Rebecca de Quin, Peter Musson & Max Warren

It will demonstrate how a silversmith hammers and forges a sheet or bar of silver into a familiar object. Read more…

A rare opportunity to see silver pieces from the Silver Trust’s Downing Street collection (http://www NULL.silvertrust NULL.co NULL.uk/col_htm/index NULL.html) regularly used at state functions alongside selected works by members of Contemporary British Silversmiths. This exhibition showcases some of the finest pieces in contemporary silver which capture the artistry, variety and skill of current silversmithing practice and is being run as part of the London Design Festival (http://www NULL.londondesignfestival NULL.com/).

Where: Victoria and Albert Museum (http://www NULL.vam NULL.ac NULL.uk/) Sackler Centre, Exhibition Road entrance.

When: 19-26 September 2010, 10 – 17.45 daily.

Contemporary British Silversmiths would like to thank Jane Carr (who recently curated “Handmade: A British Craft Exhibition (http://www NULL.fortnumandmason NULL.com/events/britishhandmade NULL.aspx)” at Fortnum and Mason) for helping us select pieces for the show.

(http://www NULL.londondesignfestival NULL.com/)

By Martin Keane, introduction by Mary Ann Simmons

Martin Keane was our Design in Silver Award 2009 recipient and proved himself more than worthy of the judge’s choice. He is moving from strength to strength showing a dedication that is sometimes breathtaking in its speed. He has had a busy year at Bishopsland where he is about to complete his study. He opted to use his award to make a piece of work and in spite of two very hectic schedules Martin and Howard Fenn managed to find time to be student and instructor for a work experience placement that Martin says has dramatically enhanced his skills. Read more…

By Shona Marsh

New Designers, the annual graduate degree show, provides the opportunity of viewing, under one roof, the budding applied artist; the talent, the trends and, more importantly the state of  the many applied arts courses from around the UK. Shona Marsh offers her view on this year’s exhibition noting that silversmithing seems to be coming under particular pressure. Read more…

By Clare Ransom

A few weeks ago, I paid a visit to the library at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. During my degree course I had heard about the library as a place for research and a source of images and resources. Although I have often visited the Assay Office round the back of the building, and been to various events in the Hall, I hadn’t actually crossed the threshold of the library until an invitation to pop in was given during Goldsmiths’ Fair last autumn. However this visit was cut short before I’d really begun when, embarrassingly, my mobile phone disturbed the peace and I had to make a speedy exit – the perils of leaving one’s stand unattended!

A month or two later I arranged to make a proper visit. I was travelling up to London with some Hallmarking to do and had some time to spare. Eleni Bide showed me round.

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By Rajesh Gogna

SIDE x SIDE: EDGE > EDGE opened at Häme Castle in Hämeenlinna attracting vast publicity within Finland which attracted 90% more visitors than usual to see this contemporary silverware showcase.

The Castle set the scene for the wonderful work on display, complimented by beautiful historical architecture and its lakes. The private view evening attracted some of Finland’s elite, and many sponsors, all of whom made the event possible.

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By Phil Jordan

Phil Jordan: a short course with Ndidi Ekubia

Contemporary British Silversmith Award

I recently completed a short 3-day course with Ndidi Ekubia at her workshop in Cockpit Arts, Deptford. The course was paid for by the award from the Contemporary British Silversmiths that I won at New Designers 2008. This money also allowed me to receive some silver with which to work whilst on the course.

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In 2007 members of the association undertook a review of the structure and potential of our organisation. Through a series of ‘away days’ we worked with designer and consultant Tory Dunn, spoke with PR expert David McDonough, commissioned a Business Strategy Plan with Alex Murdin and invited Rupert Hambro to become our Patron.

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Taking place on the 3rd to 6th July, New Designers showcased recent graduates from the country’s jewellery and silversmithing courses.

On first impressions the overwhelming ratio of jewellers to silversmiths is, as always, a little disappointing but once I started mingling amongst the show cases I was more than happy with the quality and imagination of the silversmiths that were there. Not only was the work interesting but the graduates were approachable, friendly and quite vocal about their work, and this will stand them in good stead in the future. Read more…