The 2023 Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards

The event welcomed more than 300 guests, including representatives from world-renowned jewellery houses, notable sponsors, industry associations, leading designers, and the UK media.  The Awards presentation was live-streamed which doubled the immediate audience.

In her opening remarks, Anne-Marie Reeves told guests and award winners:

“Congratulations to all the winners and especially those who were honoured with special awards. This is a real accolade and an honour to be cherished as a sign of excellence within your craft. To all entrants, we say a huge thank you for your brilliant, thoughtful and skillful contributions to this year’s competition. We encourage you to keep entering, developing yourselves, and promoting skills, talent, and a bright future for our industry.

“The Awards would not be possible without the generous and unwavering support of our Patrons and Sponsors — notably our Founding Patron, the Goldsmiths’ Company and Principal Patron, Cartier. Our thanks also go to our wonderful judges. Without them, this competition would not have the creditability and integrity that it’s known for.”

The Craftsmanship and Design Awards are unique to the British jewellery industry and allied trades in rewarding excellence in technical skills and creative design in precious metals and related materials. The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC), which operates the competition, actively encourages all craftspersons and designers in the industry, as well as apprentices and students to enter their work.

Highlights

• The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship. It is only awarded when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves a standard to justify the honour. This year it was awarded to Karen Wallace for her Carved Steel Scroll Rifle Cover.  The award was presented by Laurent Feniou, MD UK for Cartier, who personally congratulated the winner.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pope and Oliver Makower for their outstanding contribution and lifelong commitment to the jewellery profession as founders of the Bishopsland Educational Trust. Set up over 30 years ago, it supports, nurtures and develops the next generation of silversmiths. Pope Makower was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award medal by, The Trade Warden, Joanna Hardy, and Tim Fattorini of Thomas Fattorini Ltd, sponsors of this award. 
• The College Trophy, sponsored by Betts Metals, was presented to Glasgow School of Art. This trophy is awarded to the College or University that has achieved the highest total points accumulated from any Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards given in the competition.
• The Senior Award was presented to Martin Keane for the Gin No Nagare (Flowing Silver) Carafe, No3.
• The Junior Award went to Daniel Munn, for his silver enamelled Venetian mask.
• The Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award went to Alysha Strong (Apprentice) and Michael Summers (Master) for her Circle of Life Pendant.
• Janet Weller and Andrew Lamb  were multi-award winners scooping with Janet taking 4 golds in the 2D section and Andrew receiving 4 golds in the 3D sections.

2023 Awards Exhibition

An exhibition of award-winning work and selected entries from the 2023 Awards will open to the public at The Goldsmiths’ Centre in London from 2 May to 15 June 2023.