Q&A: Alan Craxford

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Alan Craxford is an esteemed master craftsman, probably best known for his painstaking and meticulous hand crafted work with hand engraving and the creation of one of a kind jewellery and silver pieces.

His career spans some 40 years in the Craft, having held positions, other than his work as a practitioner, at Sir John Cass as Senior Lecturer, and as a founding member and former Chair of the Hand Engravers Association, and well as being a member of the Contemporary British Silversmiths.

Using form, colour and surface texture in precious materials, as a metal artist he creates bespoke pieces for commission or exhibition, Alan’s work is deeply personal, he believes that the personal connects to the collective, the truer one is to the individual then this positively affects the collective of which we are all a part.

Well known for his use of the four Elements and of the Cosmos, his signature style, is now immediately identifiable, and uses a developed and thoughtful precision to each mark made upon the metal, with consideration to the light which will fall and reflect upon it.

Alan has exhibited both nationally and internationally throughout his career, and is a regular exhibitor at Goldsmiths’ Fair in London, C A A, London and the Roger Billcliffe Gallery, Glasgow. In November 2016 Alan was made a Freeman of the City of London on his 70th Birthday, and currently works from his studio in Leytonstone. He answers the Benchpeg Q&A.

What’s your name, and what do you for a living?

AC: Alan John Craxford, I’m an Artist. I’m a Jeweller / Hand Engraver / Silversmith / Paper Cut Artist / recently a Photographer.

How did you come to work in the jewellery industry?

AC: I went to Art School aged 16 to study 3D Design. This included a wide range of making skills: Silversmithing, Furniture, Jewellery, Product Design.

I left age 20 and worked in product design. Initially working on the design of TVs, radios and stereo systems, then moved on to lighting design for Concord Lighting International. Although good at my job I was also unhappy and eventually became ill. This gave me 2 months to review my life, after which I stopped working full time. I've never had a full time job since.

I knew I wanted to make things, loved metals, wanted to work for myself, to work from home and jewellery was the answer. In a way the Spiritual Life found me - I fell in love for the first time - I studied enameling at Central and engraving and casting at the Cass part time. Jewellery and I found each other there didn’t seem anything else to do.

The Head of Department at the Cass asked me to do a day's teaching, I never really knew why. Somehow I ended up becoming a Senior Lecturer and did the job for over 20 years.

How would you describe your work to someone who doesn’t know it?

AC: I only make one off pieces, with the visually strong use of colour and texture. My work must have meaning and usually incorporates lots of hand engraving. I think that my work is very identifiable and has a high quality of making. The work takes so much time I’m the only one daft enough to do it! I’ve only ever had two ideas.

The purity and elegance of geometry.

A complete fascination with its opposite - Fire.

The problem is how to unite these opposites.

What is your creative process?

AC: Generally it works from the inside first, one then has to turn this inspiration into something. This is where the intangible becomes tangible. This is where making skills together with materials can create or break an idea.

It’s the struggle between Geometry and Fire.

Life is full of opposites.

When they unite correctly it creates Beauty.

Where do you love to shop?

AC: As a younger man I could have given you many interesting places over the years.

Now Its simple - Waitrose.

What is your inspiration?

AC: To work with the inner creative worlds to manifest beautiful artifacts that speak to those who care to understand.

What piece of jewellery do you most treasure?

AC: Of my work? The easiest answer is “ the most recent” but as I've been working since 1972, I’d identify 3:

A pendent I made for a client “ Serpent guarding its Treasure “ in gold, fine silver, tanzanite.
A circular Mandala Brooch in anodized niobium with gold, silver and diamond.
A very recent commissioned pendent titled “Blaze “ in gold, silver, coloured rhodium set with large marquise citrine.

Other’s work? Magpie Necklace by Charlotte de Syllas.

What piece of jewellery do you most desire?

AC: I don’t desire to own jewellery really.

If I did, the easy answer is almost anything from Renee Lallique’s pre World War 1 period. I saw an exhibition at the British Museum some years back of jewels from Moghul India. I was captivated by a pale peach flat crystal of diamond with just a few facets. Never seen anything like it before or since.

If you could only be remembered for one thing in your working life, what would it be?

AC: If I’m allowed a big silversmithing piece it would be the “The Source of Love Pomander”.

It’s a spinning bowl of about 30cm across. It was made about 10 years ago, it has such a deep personal significance its hard to put into words. Which is why I suppose I had to make it. I committed so much of myself to it, so much time expertise and expense. No one has ever expressed any substantial interest in it. Not surprisingly, I guess because of what its about. Few want to know about such things? Who wants to find the source of Love?

[After this article was completed this piece was acquired by a collector of Alan's work]

What would be your advice to someone starting out in the industry?

AC: Easy: Have something to say, be committed to it and Love it.

The Benchpeg Proust Q&A

What’s your favourite work of art?
AC: Oh, there are many:
Sondheim’s “Into the Woods” and “Merrily we Roll Along“; Brittan’s “ War Requiem” ( CBSO playing ); Mahler’s “Third Symphony” ( CBSO playing ); Bach’s “Art of Fugue” ( Glenn Gould playing ); Prokovief’s Ballet “Cinderella”; The Sistine Chapel; The Taj Mahal; Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”; Holbein’s “The Two Ambassadors” and paintings by Seurat.
Who from past or present would you invite to a dinner party for the evening?
AC: Brunel.
Do you have any pets, if yes, what is their name?
AC: Non at the moment. I did have a British Blue called “Blake” and a manila/white cat called Pushkin.
What is your most treasured possession?
AC: My red Alfa Romeo GT 2 ltr. 2006.
What would you consider a perfect day?
AC: Well I couldn’t do it now, but if I could, I would ask a group of friends to walk from Seaford to Alfriston over Seaford Head and up the Cuckmere Valley. Find a nice spot to picnic. There used to be an outdoor Café which served fresh mulberry tart and cream. If its not there now it would have to be conjured up! On a midweek, warm, sunny summer's day.
Is there a favourite journey, trip or voyage you hold dear?

AC: Yes there are two.

Visiting India in the early 1980s, New Delhi, The houseboats on the Nagin Lake Srinagar, The Himalayan District of Ladakh and the Kingdom of Zanskar, The Monastery at Thiske, Agra, and experiencing the cheerful riot of the Ganesh Festival in what was then Bombay, Tea at the Taj Hotel.

The second was visiting a close friend in Japan for six weeks in the Summer of 1985. We toured much of Japan by rail, there two powerful memories. The first was the Oban Festival which is the Shinto National Day of the Ancestors. We watched and eventually took part in Oban dancing in one of the great city streets of Hokkaido. The second was staying in a small beautiful Buddhist temple of Ohara in the countryside outside Osaka. As a result I made a Sushi and Sake set years later for an exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall.

Both journeys had a profound effect on me. They were not without their troubles but travel does broaden!
What is your greatest achievement?

AC: Successfully starting and running, for nearly 10 years, the Short Course Program at Sir John Cass during the early part of the Century. At its height, we were the most successful program in the Country. People came from all over the world to participate.
What advice would you tell your younger self

AC: Not to worry about what other people might think.

Don’t expect other’s to behave the same way you do.
Can you sum yourself up in one word?
AC: I can't.
What motto do you live by?
AC: “The only constant thing in life is Change”