The leading event for Britain’s foremost studio jewellers and silversmiths celebrates 40 years with specially curated exhibitions.
Goldsmiths’ Fair, the UK’s leading exhibition for renowned and emerging independent silversmiths and studio jewellers, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2022. The fair provides both dedicated collectors and those new to the world of jewellery and silver an opportunity to see and acquire new pieces in the magnificent surroundings of Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London between 27 September and 9 October 2022.
The fair’s exhibitors comprise 136 of the very best craftspeople working in the UK today, chosen by a selection committee made up of tastemakers and design professionals. Alongside these will be a series of specially curated exhibitions.
Pieces from The Goldsmiths Company’s remarkable collection of silver and jewellery will be on rare public display. Curator, Dr Dora Thornton has selected 40 pieces that exemplify the very best makers and pieces acquired for the collection across the past four decades. The exhibition will showcase the collection’s depth and breadth. Examples will include how makers find their signature style (Rod Kelly’s Trout Jug, commissioned 1985); influential makers at their very best (bracelet in carved nephrite jade by Charlotte De Syllas) and leading British makers who emerged from the fair (Angus MacFadyen, who has shown in over 30 editions of the fair and whose work is represented by Fern Vase). The exhibition will also show the impact of the Goldsmiths’ Fair graduate bursary scheme, established in 2000, and from which up to 10 budding goldsmiths benefit from a gratis stand, bursary and bullion loan, and mentoring annually. Beneficiaries whose work will be displayed include Andrew Lamb; Nan Nan Liu; Miriam Hanid; Jessica Jue; and Patrick Davison.
Amongst the exhibitions will be a highlight of platinum pieces within the Goldsmiths’ collection including a brooch commissioned by The Goldsmiths Company as a gift for HM The Queen to mark her Platinum Jubilee. The brooch was made by the awardwinning jeweller, David Marshall and worn by Her Majesty for the Jubilee Beacon lighting ceremony at Windsor Castle. The Goldsmiths commissioned two identical pieces – one of which is now within the Royal Collection and the other forms part of The Goldsmiths Collection.
Exhibitors have also been invited to submit a unique piece to mark Goldsmiths’ Fair’s 40th anniversary, these will be selected by Rachel Garrahan, Jewellery Editor at Vogue, and a map will guide visitors to these works, all of which will be for sale. Curating another exhibition is Roxanne Simone, co-founder of Crucible – a platform specifically for makers from the Global Majority and LGBTQIA community – an educator, writer, and maker herself. She will be exploring the future of jewellery and metalwork and showcasing a group of 10 women/womxn designers who are pushing the boundaries of possibility.
Taking place over two weeks with 68 exhibitors participating each week, the Fair is a cornucopia of silver and jewellery where collectors and lovers of fine jewellery and silver discover cutting edge design and artistry from both established makers and recent graduates.
The following new and graduate exhibitors will be exhibiting alongside well-known makers such as Ute Decker, Tomasz Donocik, Jo Hayes Ward, Ruth Tomlinson, and Fred Rich:
- Aillie Anderson (graduate)
- Alice Fry (graduate)
- Alison Macleod (new)
- Clio Thomas (new)
- Corrinne Eira Evans (new)
- Daisy Grice (graduate)
- Eleanor Whitworth (graduate)
- Emefa Cole (new)
- Faye Hall (new)
- Holly O’Hanlon (graduate)
- Isla Gilham (graduate)
- Josephine Gomersall (new)
- Joys Bonfield – Colombara (new)
- Kate Bajic (new)
- Katherine Brunacci (new)
- Katie Watson (graduate)
- Kelda Young (graduate)
- Mark Newman (graduate)
- Megan Brown (new)
- Sarah Brown (new)
- Scott Smith (graduate)
- Shakti Ellenwood (new)
- Tamara Gomez (new)
Goldsmiths’ Fair head, Harriet Scott comments “Goldsmiths’ Fair is unique in bringing together craftspeople with a thrilling combination of vision and ingenuity. Our exhibitors represent a diverse skills-set, many combining ancient techniques with modern day technologies. This anniversary year is particularly special; over 40 years we have witnessed the incredible evolution of the UK’s silversmithing and jewellery industries, and we have the privilege of showcasing and celebrating the finest and most innovative craftspeople working in the UK today.”
Goldsmiths’ Fair takes place at Goldsmiths’ Hall from 27 September to 9 October 2022. Early Bird tickets are available to purchase now costing from £20. For further information visit goldsmithsfair.co.uk
