Spectacular gems, innovative designs on show at Goldsmiths’ Fair
LONDON, September 30, 2012 – Week One of Goldsmiths’ Fair showcased a spectacular array of jewellery featuring rare colour gemstones and innovative silverware designs.
Catherine Best, James Fairhurst and Ingo Henn presented superbly crafted jewels with stunning colour stones.
A standout selection during Week One were Catherine Best’s blue paraiba tourmaline rings, and a large red spinel ring, which attracted strong interest from the visiting public.
Catherine Best is an internationally acclaimed jewellery designer based in the Channel Islands.
Catherine Best
Catherine designs contemporary jewellery ranging from stunning bespoke pieces to exclusive limited edition collections.
Crafted from platinum, gold and silver, Catherine incorporates diamonds and gemstones of an excellent standard in her work.
She loves to work with pioneering gemstones such as paraiba tourmaline, spinel and tanzanite, as well as the traditional gemstones of sapphire, ruby and emerald.
Other exceptional hand-crafted gemstone pieces were on show at the booth of Hatton Garden-based Ingo Henn.
Each piece is unique and exhibits depth and soul, lovingly created by expert hands.
Designer-maker James Fairhurst, who is based in Farnham, Surrey, has a collection of jewellery that is bold, colourful and refreshing.
James Fairhurst
James works predominantly in 18-carat white and yellow gold, and is always trying to introduce an ever-widening selection of fine colour gemstones into his work.
Balancing these colours together has, over time, become a trademark of his jewellery.
INNOVATION
Silversmiths came out in force during Week One of Goldsmiths’ Fair, often presenting highly innovative designs.
Stacey Bentley
Shona Marsh created silver pieces in unusual shapes inspired by serving food.
Her ideas grow from simple designs based on clean lines and geometric patterns.
Techniques, such as raising and forging, create curves with delicate detailing and subtle balance.
The silver objects are combined with wood, inlayed with complex silver detailing.
The patterns in the wood are echoed and distorted through the reflections in the silver, giving the pieces another dimension, playing with your perception of where the wood ends and the silver begins.
Functionality is a key feature of Shona’s work.
Another innovative silversmith exhibiting during Week One was Mary Ann Simmons, who has spent many years specialising in the art of box making.
Her most recent work, “Panel Vessels”, and pieces created on the theme, light, line and shadow, requires an enjoyable foray into the fitting together of many parts to create a whole.
She enjoys working to commission and has made pieces for actor Kevin Bacon and for the King of Greece, as well as many other private commissions.
Leyla Abdollahi
Goldsmiths’ Fair ends on October 7.
