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Q&A: Robert Organ

Robert Organ is the Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Assay Office in London. Robert, of Welsh heritage, hails from Gwent. He gained a degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.  He joined the Assay Office London as Superintendent Assayer in 2000, and has been responsible, over the seventeen years of his tenure, for the introduction of new technologies such as laser marking and XRF machines within the modern day assaying process, as well as the introduction of sub-assay offices. He also played an active part in the successful lobbying for the exclusion of

Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Retires

The Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London, Dr Robert Organ, is to retire after 21 years of service. Robert began his career at the Goldsmiths’ Company in 2000 as Superintendent Assayer of the London Assay Office, before taking over as Deputy Warden (Managing Director-equivalent) in 2006. The Goldsmiths’ Company has been responsible for guaranteeing the purity of items made of precious metals since 1300, when the hallmarking statute was passed. Commenting on his retirement, Robert said, “It has been a privilege and honour to serve as Deputy Warden. I have taken great pride in adding to

Make Your Mark Awards 2019 Winners Announced

Now in its third year, the Make Your Mark award ceremony, organised by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, was held on Tuesday as part of the wider Make Your Mark event. The event, and the competition, were designed to celebrate and promote the British Hallmark.  As the event is largely geared towards newcomers to the trade, the competition has two entrance categories, one for industry members who completed their training within the last 5 years, and one to accommodate those who are a little earlier in their careers, for students and apprentices.    Dr Robert Organ, Deputy Warden of the

Big Names Get Set for Make Your Mark

The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office has announced the line-up for the first ever  Make Your Mark  Q&A Panel of Experts. “We are introducing the Panel this year in response to the huge popularity of talks at previous Make Your Mark events,”  explains Dr Robert Organ, Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office. “The success of  Make Your Mark  in 2014 and 2015 proved that there is huge demand for advice and inspiration among students wanting to set out on careers in precious metals and so this year, alongside the very popular talks by Theo Fennell and Michael Wainwright -

Robert Baines: Living Treasure and Fabulous Follies

The exhibition Robert Baines: Living Treasure and Fabulous Follies  is organized by Gallery Loupe for Contemporary Art Jewelry, Montclair, New Jersey, in collaboration with the Arkansas Arts Center and aims at celebrating the dazzling and witty work of the master goldsmith, craftsman and leading scholar in the field of archaeometallurgy. Everything in his creative research started when The Metropolitan Museum of Art encouraged him to make copies of pieces in their collection and testing them. This has developed his personal understandings that jewelry artifact crystallizes “human drama” and this knowledge base has empowered my trajectory into playing with jewelry history and

Dr Tristram Hunt announced as new Director of the V&A

The V&A Trustees have today (13 January) appointed Dr Tristram Hunt as the new Director of the V&A.  Tristram has served as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central since 2010, and was previously the Shadow Secretary of State and Shadow Minister for Education.  A historian, politician, writer and broadcaster, Tristram is an expert on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with a particular focus on Victorian urban history. He is the author of several books, including The English Civil War: At First Hand, and most recently Ten Cities That Made An Empire. A regular history broadcaster on BBC and Channel 4, Tristram

Appointment: Dr Frances Parton new Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Company

The Goldsmiths Company has announced that Dr Frances Parton has been appointed as Deputy Curator in the Collections Team. Frances Parton has a long and established career in the museum and heritage sector, having most recently spent time in curatorial roles with The National Trust, English Heritage and the V&A.  She brings to the role a wealth of knowledge in decorative arts, contemporary and historic metalwork, silver and jewellery.  With a PhD and MPhil from Cambridge University, a BA from Durham University and a track record of well received publications, Frances brings an impressive breadth of knowledge and distinctive perspective

Appointment: Dr Timothy Schroder makes history being elected Prime Warden for second term

The Goldsmiths’ Company has announced that Dr Timothy Schroder has been elected Prime Warden. Dr Schroder, who previously served in the role during 2015-16, is the first member of the Goldsmiths’ Company to be appointed Prime Warden for a second term since 1951, when Walter Godfrey Allen served two consecutive years. Timothy Schroder was born in 1953 and educated in Oxford, where he attended St Edward’s School and Christ Church at Oxford University. At Christ Church he read philosophy and theology, before going on to specialise in the decorative arts, completing a Diploma at the Study Centre for the History

Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, Gray’s School of Art

Scotland's  Gray's School of Art  is located on our inspiring parkland campus along the banks of the River Dee on the southern edge of the city of  Aberdeen . Gray's is a highly challenging and stimulating place to develop and refine your creative education.  Undergraduate: Three Dimensional Design (Ceramics, Glass and Jewellery) - BA (Hons) www.rgu.ac.uk

Jewellery from the Orient: Treasures from the Dr. Bir Collection: Treasures from the Bir Collection

Mad Exhibition Explores Fake News, Sensationalist Headlines, and Conspiracy Theories Through Jewellery

Mad Exhibition Explores Fake News, Sensationalist Headlines, and Conspiracy Theories Through Jewellery Fake News and True Love: Fourteen Stories by Robert Baines The Museum of Arts and Design, New York 16 October 2018 – 3 March 2019 The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) is pleased to present Fake News and True Love: Fourteen Stories by Robert Baines, a solo exhibition of jewelry by Australian artist Robert Baines, on view October 16, 2018, through March 3, 2019. The exhibition centers on fourteen fanciful news stories, of which Baines' jewelry serves as "evidence." Using rings, parures, neckpieces, and bracelets, the artist

Gang of thieves raid Cotswold Arts and Craft Museum

A gang of thieves launched a raid on the award-winning Court Barn Arts and Craft Museum and in what looks to be a premeditated crime, took off with a number of silver pieces dating back to 1900. The items taken range from pieces by architect and designer Charles Robert Ashbee (1863-1942), Hart Silversmiths who joined Ashbee in Campden in 1902 and who still make silver today and designer Robert Welch (1929-2000). They include a silver pendant in the form of a butterfly with wings of enamel and a blue enamel pendant, c1902. The Museum opened in 2007 to  preserve and

Herbert Hofmann Prize 2020

The International Craft Fair in Munich, planned from March 11th to 15th, was unfortunately cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, for the 47th time the coveted Herbert Hofmann Prize of the SCHMUCK special show was awarded to three goldsmiths and jewellery designers writes Ilaria Ruggiero. The jury, consisting of Prof. Otto Künzli from Munich, Prof. Jantje Fleischhut from Düsseldorf, Dr. Gert Bruckner from the Danner Foundation Munich and Dr. Sabine Runde from Frankfurt, met virtually on Friday, March 13, 2020 to select the three award winners: Melanie Isverding and Katrin Feulner from Germany and Carla Nuis from the

Schumacher Tech TLO10 Lathe - £14,000 (ONO)

Schumacher Tech TLO10 Lathe - £14,000 (ONO) For outside turning of wedding rings. Full working order, only purchased in 2022. Selling as no longer required in our workshop. More information on the lathe can be found here  https://youtu.be/AHgRIH3y7tA Collection only from Hertfordshire, total weight is approx.170kg Please contact Robert on 07429271919

Silent Protest: Jewellery & Activism Exhibition @ Goldsmiths' Fair

Silent Protest: Jewellery & Activism Exhibition @ Goldsmiths' Fair Week One: 26 September to 1 October |  Week Two: 3 October to 8 October 2023 Goldsmiths Fair, Goldsmiths' Hall This exhibition not only showcases a multitude of internationally recognised and renowned, design-led political messaging, it also illustrates how jewellery with meaning is never ‘alternative’ curated by  Dr Mahtab Hanna. Exhibits on show by artists such as: Dr Mahtab Hanna, UK, Farish Alborzkouh, Iran, Boris Bally, USA, Karin Paynter, UK, Ai Wei Wei, China, Mah Rana, UK, Ruudt Peters, Netherlands, Lin Cheung, UK, Ted Noten, Netherlands, BYCHARI USA In the world today

Rhythm & Geometry - Constructivist Art In Britain Since 1951

Rhythm & Geometry - Constructivist Art In Britain Since 1951 Lakeside Arts, Nottingham Friday 7 April - Sunday 23 July 2023 This exhibition celebrates the abstract and constructed art made and exhibited in Britain since 1951 with works from the collection of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia. Encompassing sculpture, reliefs, mobiles, painting, drawing and printmaking, the exhibition spans work from the beginning of the 1950s to the present-day. Artists include: Robert Adams, Yaacov Agam, Lygia Clark, Anthony Hill, Kenneth Martin, Mary Martin, François Morellet, Victor Pasmore, Takis, Mary Webb, Victor Vasarely, Gillian Wise and Li

Government extends support to stop business evictions this year

Commercial tenants will be protected from the risk of eviction until the end of 2020 helping businesses to protect jobs. The government has extended support to prevent business evictions until the end of 2020 This move will help businesses over the coming months and protect people’s jobs This is an addition to the £160 billion package of support available for businesses during the pandemic Businesses will be protected from the threat of eviction until the end of year, providing commercial tenants with greater security and protecting vital jobs, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced today (16 September 2020). Today’s measures

Flexibility, Creativity & Productivity: The New Industry Model for Working

In 1926, Henry Ford introduced the 8-hour working day, now not-so-lovingly colloquialised as ‘the 9-5’. Back then, this revolution changed the way people lived- from working 10-16 hours a day, 6 days a week, to what reformist Robert Owen formulated as “eight hours labour, eight hours recreation, eight hours rest” .  The dramatic decrease in hours actually led to higher productivity, and consequently higher profit margins. This model has reigned supreme for almost a century, but now people are now beginning to question whether it’s time to rethink working patterns once again. The Swedish famously trialled a 6-hour workday, in

Goldsmiths' Company Apprentice, Sam McMahon, to Compete in Worldskills Finals in Russia

Last Friday 8 March, set against a backdrop of luxury cars, three Goldsmiths’ company apprentices battled it out for a spot on the UK team at the Worldskills Finals in Kazan, Russia this Summer.  Apprentices, Sam McMahon from Mappin & Webb , George Schembri from B&M Bijoux and Robert Dean from The House of Garrard, spent three days in Nottingham demonstrating their exceptional technical skills in jewellery making. Set to the task of creating an Aston Martin badge to a specific design, testing their accuracy, time management and problem-solving skills. Sam McMahon proved his mettle against his fellow competitors taking

Suppliers experience “best event in 15 years” at CMJ spring trade event

From record numbers through the doors to magic numbers on stage, this year’s CMJ spring trade event turned out to be “the best event in 15 years,” according to suppliers who attended. Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 17 and 18 February, the event saw more than 100 retail member businesses and more than 80 jewellery and watch suppliers make the journey to Birmingham to network, discuss latest trends and to enjoy an evening of unforgettable entertainment. Robert Day of Allied Gold was just one supplier to praise the event. He said: “This has been the best CMJ

Commission for an Artist / Maker, National Trust Croome

Croome is looking for an emerging artist, maker or designer to develop and make new work responding to Robert Adam’s vision and designs at Croome.  The work(s) will be designed in collaboration with five local groups and presented at Croome in 2018. The artist will be supported by artist Hew Locke in a mentoring relationship. Fee The selected artist/marker will receive a £5,200 commission with a £13,000 material cost budget. Dates 3  March – 10 am Deadline for the expression of Interest 11 March – Artist Open Day at Croome 27 March – Deadline for Artist Proposal 5 April –

Max Carocci Lecture

'Precious Metals-Precious Stones: Symbolism and Technologies of Precolumbian Jewellery' Lecture by Max Carocci  Tuesday 11 October 2022, 18:00 – 20:00 What are the reasons for a culture to produce jewels from very specific raw materials? How do we make sense of the inordinate use of certain metals? What causes certain societies to value certain metals over others? Through examples drawn from the exceptional creativity and craftmanship of Precolumbian master jewellers, we address these and other questions related to the meanings, symbolism, and values differently associated with jewellery, and how they work in society. About the Lecturer: British Museum-based Dr. Max Carocci

Goldsmiths’ Company announces new acquisitions for 2020/2021

The Goldsmiths’ Company has announced its latest acquisitions from the last year for its Collection, which comprises works of art of world class importance. The acquisitions reinforce the Company’s support for contemporary makers through commissions and purchases, in what has been a challenging year for British craftspeople. Dr Dora Thornton, Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Company says that  the report of acquisitions  reveals extraordinary examples of work made for the Collection.  “Our commissions, and purchases recognise and celebrate the quality and handmaking skills of our craft. All the pieces contribute to our wider understanding of contemporary jewellery and silver. They tell

Emerging Silversmith Residency - February 2025

Emerging Silversmith Residency - February 2025 The Hugo Burge Foundation Berwick Upon Tweed We are looking for an emerging silversmith (min. 3 years postgraduate) to join us for a residency in February 2025. The successful applicant will be given access to the workshop including a personal bench, accommodation onsite and a weekly stipend of £350. During their time with us, the visiting resident will also be joining the community of emerging silversmiths who are supported by The Marchmont Silversmithing workshop as well as other makers and creators on-site and will also be offered mentorship from Creative Director Dr James Fox.

Chaumet launch ‘Chaumet In The Sky’ app

To celebrate the launch of the Haute Joaillerie collection ‘Les Ciels de Chaumet’, the high jewellery house has unveiled ‘Chaumet In The Sky’, a mobile application available on iTunes. The app acts as a playful immersion of the celestial sphere, and helps the browser to discover constellations, planets and the jewelery creations of ‘Ciels de Chaumet’, stars among the stars. “Opal comets appear among the stars, diamond stars illuminate the blue of the night...” Developed in collaboration with Dr. Patrick Michel, world-renowned astrophysicist and CNRS researcher, the application ‘Chaumet In The Sky’ makes it possible, by orienting your phone towards

Richard Fox takes office in a challenging year as 'Trade' Prime Warden

The Goldsmiths’ Company is delighted to announce that Richard Fox, Managing Director of Fox Silver, has taken office as Prime Warden, in succession to Dr Timothy Schroder. With a background in silversmithing, design and business leadership, Richard has successfully created beautiful silverware for the likes of Formula One and Rolls Royce for almost four decades. His primary focus will be championing the trade of silversmiths, jewellers and allied industries during his year in office. Richard’s distiguished career as a silversmith started as an extra-curriclar activity at school, but soon became “an all-consuming passion”. After gaining a Master’s degree in design

Luxury in the Age of Technology

Call for Papers: The 4th international In Pursuit of Luxury (IPOL) Conference  Milan, Italy 28 - 29 May  2020  'Luxury in the Age of Technology' This 2020 conference provides a platform to continue to expand our understanding of luxury. As with previous conferences we welcome contributions from various disciplines and practices including automotive, architecture, engineering, fashion, product, digital design, retail, hospitality - all of which explore luxury through a critical lens to encourage debate.  The 2020 IPOL conference will be held in collaboration with the Design Department - Politecnico di Milano / co-chaired by Associate Professor, Dr Chiara Colombi  Our key

The 4th international In Pursuit of Luxury (IPOL) Conference

The 4th international In Pursuit of Luxury (IPOL) Conference  Milan, Italy 28 - 29 May  2020  'Luxury in the Age of Technology' This 2020 conference provides a platform to continue to expand our understanding of luxury. As with previous conferences we welcome contributions from various disciplines and practices including automotive, architecture, engineering, fashion, product, digital design, retail, hospitality - all of which explore luxury through a critical lens to encourage debate.  The 2020 IPOL conference will be held in collaboration with the Design Department - Politecnico di Milano / co-chaired by Associate Professor, Dr Chiara Colombi  Our key questions: How is

Royal College of Art ranked world's top art & design university for fifth year

The RCA leads the table of 200 of the world’s top universities for the study of art and design in the 2019 QS World University Subject Rankings, ahead of much larger institutions around the globe.  The ranking consolidates its position as the world’s internationally renowned art and design university, offering unrivalled opportunities in art and design.  Dr Paul Thompson, Vice-Chancellor of the Royal College of Art, said: ‘I’m proud and honoured that the Royal College of Art has been recognised as the world’s number one university for art and design for the fifth year in succession.  ‘As a small, specialist

Susie Freeman, Martin Smith and Jane Adam @ Ruthin

Susie Freeman, Martin Smith and Jane Adam @ Ruthin Ruthin Craft Centre 18 January – 29 March 2020 Gallery 1: Susie Freeman: WOWI + A Retrospective of work by Susie Freeman including Pharmacopoeia with Dr Liz Lee Susie established herself as a textile artist of great originality early in her career. As a postgraduate student at the Royal College of Art, following Manchester School of Art where she had studied weaving, she invented a knitted network of pockets using a monofilament thread: into each small transparent pocket she dropped a tiny object before safely sealing them with a further row

Experts share insight on non-essential retail shops reopening and provide reassurance on how to shop safely

This week, all non-essential retail shops re-opened after 12 weeks of closure since the COVID-19 outbreak. Hundreds of thousands of non-essential retail shops across England are set to reopen including Shopping centres and shops will look and operate differently compared to three months ago, when the public were last shopping in them.  To inform the public on what to expect and showcase the new changes that have been implemented, shopping expert and TV star Gok Wan along with media doctor Dr Zoe Williams were granted early access to some stores on London’s iconic Oxford Street to find out more before they

Head of David Fowkes Jewellery Climbs New Heights

Dr Rona Mackenzie, Chief Operating Officer of jewellery designer, David Fowkes, is to embark upon the challenge of a lifetime in order to support UK innovators in business. Rona has pledged to climb the highest points in each of the seven continents of the world, starting with Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, last month. All funds raised by Rona will support a new charity, D3, launched to help support businessmen and women in getting creative, innovative and dynamic projects off the ground. David Fowkes is generously supporting D3 through the creation of a unique, handmade piece of jewellery

It's In Our Hands - One Year On, Ethical Making Symposium

It's In Our Hands - One Year On, Ethical Making Symposium This Symposium is aimed primarily at jewellers and silversmiths, but is relevant to makers of all disciplines who have an interest in adopting an ethical approach in their practice. Speakers Speakers will include award winning British Fairtrade ethical jeweller and environmental activist, Greg Valerio MBE; jeweller Ute Decker; researcher Dr Peter Oakley; founder of the Precious Metals Workshop, Ian Nicholson; and Jane Barnett and Theodora Panayides of consultancy and social venture, Levin Sources.  Speakers will discuss the importance of implementing an ethical approach and how to face the challenges

The Creative Business

‘The Creative Business’ is a collaborative research project setup by artist and creative producer Antonia Beck, and Dr Jacob Salder (Centre for Enterprise, Innovation and Growth, Birmingham City University). This project will look to better understand business practice in the creative sector, specifically focusing on arts / performance-based creative industries. The objective of the project is to support and examine development for arts-based businesses, in particular how this relates to and can be informed by more mainstream approaches. It is expected this project will contribute toward enhancing understanding of the development needs of arts-based creative industries, and through this inform

The Textures of Craft, Heritage Crafts Association Annual Conference

The Textures of Craft, Heritage Crafts Association Conference Kaffe Fassett, worldwide authority on textiles and colour, is keynote speaker at The Textures of Craft, the conference of the Heritage Crafts Association on Saturday 6th May 2017. Kaffe kicks off a spectacular day when craftspeople and anyone interested in the UK’s rich heritage of traditional skills can hear from makers, browse the Instant Gallery, celebrate the best craftspeople in the country and find out more about the Heritage Crafts Association’s research into endangered crafts: The Radcliffe Red List. Other speakers include archaeologist, historian and TV presenter Dr Alex Langlands, potters Lisa Hammond

It's In Our Hands - The Future of Ethical Making in Scotland

It's In Our Hands - The Future of Ethical Making in Scotland by The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and DJCAD at the University of Dundee This Symposium on Ethical Making is aimed primarily at jewellers and silversmiths, but is relevant to makers of all disciplines who have an interest in adopting an ethical approach in their practice. The day will be animated by a fantastic panel of speakers, including Greg Valerio MBE,  award winning British fair trade ethical jeweller and environmental activist; jeweller Ute Decker; silversmith Karen Westland; Tim Ingle of ethical jewellery brand Ingle & Rhode; researcher Dr Peter Oakley

Higher Education Institutions

We've complied a list of all the national organisations offering jewellery, silversmithing or metal at HND or degree level here... Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthen School of Art www.colegsirgar.ac.uk Central Saint Martins www.arts.ac.uk/csm Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh www.eca.ed.ac.uk Glasgow School of Art www.gsa.ac.uk Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen www.rgu.ac.uk Hereford College of Arts www.hca.ac.uk Kensington and Chelsea College www.kcc.ac.uk London College of Fashion www.arts.ac.uk/fashion Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk National College of Art and Design www.ncad.ie Plymouth College of Art www.plymouthart.ac.uk School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University www.bcu.ac.uk/jewellery Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk Staffordshire University www.staffs.ac.uk Turo and