Silversmith to discuss commission
Simone ten Hompel to discuss Glenmorangie Commission
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Silversmith Simone ten Hompel will discuss her major commission for the National Museums Scotland and The Glenmorangie Company to create a new piece of contemporary metal artwork inspired by the museum’s early medieval collections.
Regarded as one of the most inventive metalsmiths of her generation, of international repute, and one of Britain’s most critically acclaimed craft artists, Simone ten Hompel is one of the foremost metal practitioners in the UK. Working within this medium for over 40 years, she is known for her metalwork and sculptures that subvert our ideas of domesticity and navigate the metaphorical depth of everyday vessels such as spoons and plates. And through her teaching, both here in the UK and internationally, she has influenced a new generation of artists working in this engaging material.
About the Scottish Silver Research Project
The Glenmorangie Research Project on Early Medieval Scotland by National Museums Scotland began in 2008 and since then has uncovered exciting new insights on this important period of Scotland’s past..
The project is a pioneering partnership between The Glenmorangie Company and National Museums Scotland that was inspired by the Hilton of Cadboll stone. This stunning piece of early medieval sculpture was found close to the Glenmorangie distillery in Tain, Easter Ross, and is on display at the National Museum of Scotland in the Early People gallery. The carvings on the stone also provided the inspiration for the Glenmorangie brand logo.
Thanks to The Glenmorangie Company’s support, National Museums Scotland has been able to undertake ground-breaking research on this fascinating period of Scotland’s early history. Beautiful, elaborate and sophisticated objects, sculptured stones, and manuscripts were produced in Scotland during this time, and through the project we are able to uncover their stories and share them with everyone.
About the Commission
For over a decade, National Museums Scotland has been working in partnership with The Glenmorangie Company to support academic research into Scotland’s past. And in a new phase of engagement, it was decided to commission a major new piece of contemporary metal for display in the National Museum of Scotland’s Art & Design gallery, Making & Creating.
This new commission, funded by The Glenmorangie Company, was envisaged to highlight not only those artists and designers who are challenging the perception of their chosen medium – be that by using new technologies or their use of traditional craft skills in alternative and surprising ways – but would also focus a new and artistic lens onto the work of our archaeological team here at National Museums Scotland, and their research into the early Scottish medieval collections.
In December 2018 Simone ten Hompel was selected by the judging panel to carry out the commission.
Simone said of the commission:
"To have been selected, from what I assume would have been a group of my contemporaries, is more than a special feeling. Words are not tactile enough to explain how I feel, but I am so very thrilled!
"It is a privilege to be able to work alongside the National Museum of Scotland and the Glenmorangie Commission. The commission allows me to explore historical methods of working with silver with contemporary tools, and all within a contemporary context. I am excited to work alongside the curators at the museum as we share ideas, helping me produce a piece of silverwork in my particular language."
About the Commission - in film
In this short film, Simone ten Hompel meets Glenmorangie Research Fellow Adrián Maldonado and Sarah Rothwell, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Design, at the National Museum of Scotland to begin her exploration of our Viking-age silver collection and discuss her plans for the Commission.
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