For the first time this September the Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Lyon & Turnbull will host Elements, a four day festival celebrating the art of precious metals. ‘Elements’ will bring together over forty contemporary jewellers and silversmiths from across the UK and an exclusive exhibition of some of Scotland’s greatest collections of contemporary silver.
Elements will be held in our main Edinburgh saleroom, from the 10 – 13 September 2015. Two of Scotland’s well-known, but rarely seen in public, collections of contemporary silver; the Silver of the Stars Collection and ‘The Millennium Collection for Bute House’ will be on show. Forty of the U.K.’s most talented contemporary silversmiths and jewellers will be making and displaying their work, which will be available for sale over the four days.
Exhibitors include Sarah Cave, who made the claret jug in Silver of the Stars for Sir Cameron Mackintosh; Karen Elizabeth Donovan, an American maker who is currently Artist in Residence at Edinburgh College of Art; and Sarah Hutchison who made Sharleen Spiteris’s diamond studded teapot in Silver of the Stars.
"Elements tells the story of the provenance of these amazing pieces. You can talk to the makers and be confident about who made the work, where it was made and, because all the work is in line with hallmarking legislation, what materials it is made from. Elements is an antidote to mass produced work of uncertain origin - it's about unique pieces of work of exceptional quality, to suit all budgets." - Mary Michel, Director of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths
Elements offers the chance for new and old collectors of precious metals to purchase items of jewellery and silver at affordable prices, to meet the makers, and learn the story behind their pieces. There will be daily discussions and workshops as well as hallmarking demonstrations by the Edinburgh Assay Office.
Ruth Davis, Jewellery Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull said “We’re very excited to be a part of Elements. We plan for it to become an annual event, designed to act as a Scottish version of the very successful ‘Contemporary Silver Fair’ held in The Goldsmiths Hall in London which attracts thousands of visitors each year. There will be something for everyone with talks on Designer British Silver and for children there will be a craft area and mini workshops.”
Elements is a central focus in Silver September, a series of events this autumn celebrating gold and silver, including ‘Modern Masters’ at The Scottish Gallery and the ‘Silversmith’s Art, Made in Britain Today’ at National Museums Scotland.