Silversmith Claire Malet completes National Museum Wales Commission

The installation, in fine silver on a walnut base carved by woodworker Nick Barberton, makes reference to ‘Roads’ by the poet Edward Thomas (1878-1917), the centenary of whose death on the Western Front falls this year. 

Inspiration

The piece grew out of Claire’s love of walking holloways, tracks and drove roads. Her explorations of old roads and the literature and art they’ve inspired came to focus on the writings of Edward Thomas, a passionate walker who chronicled how old roads fell into disuse, superseded by metalled roads driven through the countryside for cars and trucks. The piece conjures the nostalgia and the sense of connection she feels walking these old ways, thinking of the many generations who walked before.

The work was created in reponse to a commission from the P & O Makower Trust, who will give the piece on a long term loan to the National Museum Wales Cardiff.

Materials

The main piece is made from fine silver and walnut wood, the book is a 1929 reprint of the 1922 edition of the Collected Poems of Edward Thomas. The bookmark is made from fine silver and ribbon. The dimensions are: length 80 cm, width 30 cm, height 26 cm, excluding the book and bookmark.

P & O Makower Trust & National Museum Wales 

National Museum Wales has one of the world’s principal collections of British silver, including a collection of contemporary silver on loan from P & O Makower Trust. Penelope and Oliver Makower who are also the creators of the Bishopsland Educational Trust  which promotes contemporary silver through its internationally recognised post-graduate course. 

Photo credit: Anthony Evans.