Inspired Exhibition: 19 – 23 May 2015
This May the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell will be hosting the Inspired selling exhibition of modern silver and contemporary furniture, through a unique collaboration between The Festival of Silver, and The Furniture Makers’ Company, the furnishing industry’s charity, during Clerkenwell Design Week, 19-21 May 2015.
The Festival of Silver brings together the best designers and makers of modern silversmithing in Britain whilst The Furniture Makers’ Company represents many of the UK’s finest contemporary furniture makers. The leading exhibition sponsor is The Goldsmiths’ Company. This free exhibition will be on show in the Exhibition Room at The Goldsmiths’ Centre and will feature the bespoke work of 18 furniture makers, 16 senior silversmiths and 24 recent graduates sponsored by Cookson Precious Metals. Exhibiting furniture makers include Nick Allen, Tim Chadsey and Karen Hansen; and silversmiths include Ester Lord, Brett Payne and Karina Gill. All pieces on display will be for sale.
The exhibition inspires creative collaborations between two of the finest craft makers. A LoMo sideboard with collaboratively designed matching tray by Jonathan Walter of Bark Furniture is being made in response to a tea service by award-winning silversmith Charlotte Tollyfield, both specially commissioned for the exhibition.
“We are bringing together two of Britain’s most innovative industries to make a stunning selling exhibition. Both organisations are working hard to raise the profiles of these great makers,” explains Gordon Hamme, the founder and coordinator of the Inspired exhibition.
“The UK’s bespoke designer makers are among the very best in the world, so it is gratifying to have so much excellent work on show in one venue during such a key week in the international design calendar,” said the Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, Paul von der Heyde.
Ruth Moir, Events and Exhibitions Manager at The Goldsmiths’ Centre comments “The Inspired exhibition is now in its third year at The Goldsmiths’ Centre. We’re proud to be hosting such talent and giving all the opportunity to purchase some of these magnificent pieces as part of Clerkenwell Design Week.”
There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the designer makers, their work on display and how they went about setting up in business through a series of lunchtime talks from keynote industry speakers during Clerkenwell Design Week at The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
Visit www.britishsilverweek.co.uk to find out more about the exhibitors and the talks tying in with the Inspired Exhibition and Clerkenwell Design Week.
Notes to Editor
About The Festival of Silver
The Festival of Silver organisation formed in 2008 to raise public awareness of contemporary British silversmithing. The company has hosted over 80 exhibitions in Britain, Europe and Asia. The major exhibition for this year is the ground-breaking Inspired selling showcase, a unique collaboration between contemporary British silversmiths and modern Furniture Makers. The Festival of Silver will also exhibit at Desire Wisley from 29 April to 4 May 2015.
About The Furniture Makers’ Company
The Furniture Makers’ Company is the British furnishing industry’s charity, here to help everyone involved in this exciting and creative world, whether you’re a student, designer, maker, business owner, retailer, current or former employee.
- We encourage new talent with our extensive education programme, working with schoolchildren, students and young professionals to create a powerful workforce for the future
- We recognise and inspire the very highest standards within the industry with our prestigious Guild Mark awards for design and manufacturing excellence
- We are here to help people from the industry when times are tough, with grants, services, time and support
For more information on The Furniture Makers’ Company visit www.furnituremakers.org.uk
For our two-minute video visit www.furnituremakers.org.uk/about
Furniture Makers’ Hall
12 Austin Friars EC2N 2HE
020 7562 8522
marketing@furnituremakers.org.uk
About The Goldsmiths’ Centre
The Goldsmiths’ Centre is the leading charity for the professional training of goldsmiths. Founded by The Goldsmiths’ Company in 2007, it is a charitable enterprise with a specific purpose: “To advance, maintain and develop art, craft, design and artisan skills, including in particular but without limitation, those pertaining to goldsmithing”. It does this by
- Providing managed workspace, education and training for public benefit
- Fostering promoting and extending public interest in art, craft, design and artisan skills
- Providing a knowledge base and community for those engaged or interested in these skills.
For further information on The Goldsmiths’ Centre and its Foundation Programme, visit www.goldsmiths-centre.org
About The Goldsmiths’ Company
One of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London, The Goldsmiths’ Company received its first Royal Charter in 1327. The Company’s London Assay Office has been responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of precious metals.
The Company is the principal patron of modern jewellers and silversmiths in the UK, continuing to play an important role in support of the craft, funding apprenticeships and assisting with the technical training of aspiring designer-makers. The Company supports a wide range of other charitable causes and pursues a number of educational projects with schools.
For more information, visit www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk