Mindful of Silver is an exciting and stimulating exhibition which challenges our perceptions of the modern day silversmith and illustrates the intellectual and practical design process involved in the making of innovative, design-led contemporary silver.

"Heptagonal Covered Jug" by Hector Miller, 2010

The lid of this arc shaped vessel transforms into a locked handle. Sterling silver, formed, cast and fused construction with enamel by Frances Loyen.

Miller has delivered a “tour de force” and pushed the boundaries both creatively and technically with his elegant silver vessels.  At first glance the vessels looks like a stunning decorative silver sculpture but in fact the top unhinges to form a natural handle thus making two practical jugs.  Inspired by the Dragon Tree, Hector’s design sequence from its conception to completion is documented by a series of drawings and models.

Liner Jug" by Toby Russell, 2010

Sterling silver - scored and folded by hand from flat sheet

In order to produce his scored and sheet folded jug, Toby Russell had to overcome the challenge of converting his final design from a card model into silver. He explains “Paper has its own unique quality and in some ways is less flexible than silver sheet. I never truly know how the design will convert or how far the silver can be pushed”. 

The image that inspired Toby throughout the design process was that of a prow of a boat cutting through water and as a keen swimmer and surfer, he is naturally drawn to images of waves.

While the results are totally different, both Peter Musson and Lucian Taylor like to fuse the precision of modern technologies with the unpredictability of traditional hand-raising skills.

“π ” (or "pi") by Peter Musson, 2010

Fine Silver, positive and negative electro-deposition using computer controlled milling.

The ancient Japanese metalworking technique of Mokume Gane (wood grain metal) is taken to new heights in a bowl by Alistair McCallum made using an incredible 128 layers of silver and gilding metal. 

"Carafe and four Cups". by Grant McCaig 2010

Pleated Fine Silver, seamed and hand raised
 

Theresa Nguyen’s “Spiritus”, is a conceptual vessel for aesthetic effect. She has interpreted the notion of containment by producing an open and fluid form composed of multiple leaves unfurling from a tightly packed core. Theresa began by visiting some of the country’s most renowned gardens and freely sketching the form, movement and overlapping patterns of leaves. The proportions and scale of the design then evolved three dimensionally through model making in paper, wire and real leaves.

"Shape and Form" by Rebecca de Quin, 2010

Hand raised sterling silver vessel with printed & anodized aluminum silhouette on paint finished MDF base.

Rebecca de Quin’s silver vase, its elegant lines echoed in a two-dimensional silhouette of blue aluminum, takes on the form of a still-life painting.

Vladimir Böhm's flat, rounded and textured dish  took its inspiration from the weight and solidness of a centuries old cattle trough in a village in his native Croatia. 

"Plunging Form" by Sarah Denny, 2010

Hand-raised from a single flat sheet of Britannia silver

Sarah Denny’s sculptural vessel “Plunging Form” seeks to express simple changes of movement within an object and celebrates the natural beauty of her native Yorkshire.  Sarah’s vessel went through the physical process of pencil to paper, to plasticine and then papier-mâché models followed by hours of hammering to raise the form from a large single blank of silver.

David Clarke has a reputation for producing engaging, intelligent and challenging domestic objects.  His take on a vessel was to start with a spoon: “I respond to spoons and see them as the beginning. In the background is the tradition of silversmithing. My reaction is to subvert the subject and place strange, odd or humorous objects back into this dull predictable and stiflingly conservative arena.”

'Pre-genus 10' by Michael Rowe 2011

925 silver, textured aluminium plate, card/string tag. Hand fabrication and finishing techniques

 Michael Rowe takes a radically conceptual approach looking at the relationship between containers and what they contain. The humble Ryvita provides the vehicle for an exploration of geometrical proportions in silver for the table.

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All photographs and text courtesy of Goldsmiths' Hall
Web design by Marbeth Schon
 Copyright © 2011 Modern Silver Magazine

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