HALLMARK Salon showcases best of British hallmarked craftsmanship
LONDON, June 7, 2014 – HALLMARK Salon 2014 will take place this year at Somerset House, one of the major arts and cultural venues in the heart of London, from Tuesday 24 – Saturday 28 June 2014.
86 of Britain’s most prominent designer jewellers and silversmiths will offer jewellery and precious objects, using a glittering array of gold, silver, diamonds and precious stones. The key is that every piece has been hallmarked in the United Kingdom.
Celebrating the remarkable talents of contemporary British jewellers, the event is filled with stunning, cutting-edge creations in not only precious metals but also incorporating an exciting element of varied mixed media.
From pendants to brooches, cufflinks to tumblers, there is literally something for everyone, even those wishing to purchase a unique Wedding or Christening gift.
Prices range from £60 to £16,000 and beyond.
The innovative selling event takes place in the heart of London during the summer design season, and attracts those wishing to purchase statement bespoke items directly from the designer jewellers and silversmiths, who will be present over the five days, rather than buying pieces available on the high street.
Paul Dyson, Director, said: “I am delighted to announce the launch of the HALLMARK Salon in support of the British jewellery and silversmithing industry. We see it as our mission to nurture the development of contemporary talent and the Salon will provide the ideal selling platform for today’s most exciting artisans, for collectors and enthusiasts alike.”
New for 2014 is Yorkshire-based Chris Boland whose hand-constructed pieces utilise stunning stones to create bold shapes. Armenian born jeweller, Stepan Terteryan incorporates traditional filigree techniques into contemporary pieces. Emily Thatcher’s silver and gold sculptural jewellery is inspired by molecular structures and is highlighted with unique gemstones. French jewellery designer-maker Clara Breen works with precious metals and gems, combined with fragments of leaflets, train tickets, maps or coloured card, while Mirri Damer’s work is inspired by the Cornish coastline which surrounds her.
Among the silversmiths exhibiting at the Salon for the first time are designer Martin Keane, who draws on his fine art background to produce highly sculptural hand-raised pieces, and Shaun Grace, who produces functional innovative objects inspired by contemporary architecture. These silversmiths demonstrate the historic skills handed down from generation to generation and for which London is so renowned.
Ingo Henn has been fascinated by beautiful coloured gemstones since he was a child – being the son of one of the world’s leading gemstone dealers, and James Fairhurst draws inspiration from the exquisite natural beauty of rare and unusual stones in order to create pieces with a strong visual impact. His designs are simple and elegant, showing each gemstone off to its maximum potential. Kevin Charles trained in a very traditional workshop as an apprentice, so much of his inspiration is taken from the styles of Victorian and classic designs, but with a modern twist; and Lilly Hastedt, who is a qualified gemologist, has an affinity for coloured gemstones and a passion for pearls, which she uses to great effect.
Icelandic goldsmith Kristjan Eyjolfsson’s draws on his homeland’s natural beauty and his fascination with Gothic, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau architecture for inspiration, while Finnish-born Sanni Falkenberg is also a lapidarist and has had a life-long passion for rocks and crystals, which continues to materialise in her Cosmic jewellery. Tom Rucker comes from four generations of goldsmiths in Germany and is an artist goldsmith who uses state-of-the-art laser welding technology in conjunction with goldsmithing skills to create unique jewellery pieces. Beth Gilmour’s work continues to incorporate a signature leaf pattern that was influenced by her childhood spent in the Somerset countryside. The combination of her love of detailing paired with unusual precious and semi-precious stones, results in beautiful, elegant and wearable jewellery.
One of the first jewellers in the world to launch a collection in Fairtrade gold, Ute Decker is renowned for her striking, minimalist, angular pieces in the finest most sustainable materials. Tomasz Donocik was born in Poland and raised in Austria. He originally worked for internationally renowned jeweller Stephen Webster and his pieces have a strong masculine feel.
Will Odell’s contemporary silverware continues to be inspired by rock forms, which he brings to everyday functional objects. James Dougall initially had a successful career in Fine Art and Antiques, but now as a Silversmith and Jeweller, he makes a diverse range of objects, often incorporating other materials, and recent work re-evaluates shagreen and sharkskin for both their durability and decorative merits. Jeweller/silversmith Eileen Gatt is based in the Scottish Highlands and specialises in highly individual gifts for children, such as cups, spoons, animals and charm bracelets. Her recent ‘Tall Tale’ collection is a charming mix of old traditions and contemporary aesthetics. She works predominantly in silver but often incorporates 18ct gold and semi-precious stones to highlight certain aspects of the design. Stuart Jenkins’ futuristic pieces show the versatility of silver, while Andrew MaGowan, based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter enjoys making more functional pieces and his recent work has been inspired by his travels in Japan and walking through the bamboo forests near Kyoto.
