Make Your Mark awards celebrate their third year
Make Your Mark Awards 2019 Winners Announced
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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 Assay Office, said: “The Goldsmiths’ Company is not only the home of hallmarking but a leading supporter of the trade. We are passionate about encouraging the next generation to prosper in this wonderful industry. As an example of this commitment, this is the fifth time we have staged the free Make Your Mark event, fast becoming a brand in its own right, and the third time we have run the Make Your Mark Awards. I was delighted that we had such a large number of entries for the latter, demonstrating a wide range of creativity and approaches to tackling the brief. Bringing together this mix of visitors, awards entrants, staff, stall holders, speakers, demonstrators, and sponsors made Make Your Mark 2019 a huge success.”
Applicants had the freedom to enter anything from drawings to finished pieces of work; given that they follow these stipulations:
- Design or make a piece in precious metal that celebrates the London hallmark
- Comply with the Hallmarking Act 1973.
- Exhibit originality and aesthetic appeal
- Demonstrate excellence in craftsmanship and/or design.
Amongst the judges were Angela Cork, Bobby White, Jos Skeates, and Adam Phillips- some of whom spoke earlier in the day as park of the Make Your Marks Talks Programme.
Speaking at the Awards, Angela Cork said: “For the time that I have been practising as a Silversmith I have always found it very interesting to think about how I might use a hallmark to dramatic effect and to finish a piece, taking great joy in choosing the size, placement and display of the marks and deciding whether a piece would suit traditionally struck marks or 3D laser-marks. But always pleased to finish my piece with a set of London hallmarks, knowing that my work follows in the footsteps of all of the great craftsmen and women that have come before us all.”
The student award winner was announced as Smaranda Maria Voican (below, right) from Central Saint Martins, for her “Reveal” ring (above). The judges felt this design was both simple and effective and beautifully presented and ultimately demonstrated how jewellery can be made more interesting because of the application of the hallmark.
The Graduate Award was awarded to Ninka Duval (below, left) who studied at the British Academy of Jewellery for her “Thirteen Hundred” ring (above). The judges felt this piece demonstrated great craftsmanship, subtlety in the use of the hallmarks alongside the design which celebrated the London hallmark.
Exclusive career enhancing opportunities are waiting for the winners – Ninka will enjoy a 1:1 workshop tour and portfolio review with Bobby White, and Smaranda a 1:1 design studio tour and portfolio review with Liz Olver, Design Director of Annoushka.
Both will also receive £1000 from the Assay Office and a ‘behind the scenes’ tour, a Dream Plan Do business planner by the Design Trust and a pair of Goldsmiths’ Centre Creative Links talks tickets.
The winning designs, and four runners up along with those shortlisted, were exhibited in Goldsmiths’ Hall and are currently on the Assay Office website.
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