Granulation Masterclass with Linda Lewin

• The history of granulation and its use in ancient and contemporary jewellery.
• Linda’s collection of silver and gold samples, examining different approaches to granulation and what can be learned from them.
• How to make granules in controlled and consistent sizes.
• Preparing and positioning granules on flat and three-dimensional surfaces.
• Using copper salts and copper plating techniques to fix granules in position.
• The advantages and limitations of different approaches, including chemical and alloy soldering.
• The relationship between heat, mass, alloy and design, and how these factors affect the success of the granulation process.
• Working with different silver and gold alloys and understanding how their properties influence the process.
• Finishing techniques for granulated surfaces.
• How granulation can work alongside other jewellery techniques, including loop-in-loop chain making.
• Developing your own granulated element or piece and considering how the technique could become part of your wider studio practice.

Throughout the Masterclass, you will develop your skills through demonstrations, observation and graded practical exercises before applying what you have learned more independently.

By the end of the Masterclass, you will have:

• Developed the practical skills needed to make granules in controlled sizes and apply them to three-dimensional forms.
• Built a stronger understanding of the relationship between heat, mass, metallurgy and design within the granulation process.
• Explored how different silver and gold alloys respond to heat and how this affects granulation.
• Created a collection of silver and/or gold samples demonstrating different approaches to making and attaching granules.
• Developed a finished piece of granulation jewellery, such as a small pendant, or a granulated element ready to incorporate into a future piece.
• Considered how granulation could complement your own design language and jewellery practice.

• Basic tool kit including saw frame, saw blades, hand file (1/2 round or flat cut 2)
• Fine pointed tweezers
• Snips or pointed nail scissors
• Loupe/magnifier
• Small mandrel/darning needles, fine knitting needle to make jump rings
• Double handed pin vice
• Set of jeweller’s pliers
• Set of needle files for general purpose
• Scribe

You will have the opportunity to purchase your own gold if you would like to explore working in gold during the Masterclass. A minimum of approximately 5g of 18ct or 22ct gold sheet or wire is recommended. Please discuss your requirements with Linda during the first day of the course before purchasing materials to ensure that the size and quantity are appropriate for your intended work. Gold can be purchased from Cookson Gold located in Hatton Garden, a stone’s throw from the Goldsmiths’ Centre.

• A granulation starter pack.
• All Britannia Silver needed to produce work and sample – please refer to the note above about the option to bring your own gold if you wish to do so.
• Specialist tools and workshop equipment required during the Masterclass.
• Technical notes. Participants should supplement the notes with their own observations.

Our small class size offers you the chance to get group tuition as well as individual guidance on a 1:1 basis with your tutor, allowing you to receive tailored advice to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the ancient technique of granulation.

Our Masterclass series at the Goldsmiths’ Centre focuses on depth, specialist expertise, and the development of professional practice. Led by experts in their field, each Masterclass is designed to deepen specialist practice through focused learning and practical application. The series is aimed at advanced and practising designers, makers and craftspeople who want to refine their skills, solve complex problems, exercise professional judgement, and integrate specialist knowledge into their practice.

This Masterclass is designed for practising jewellers and designer-makers with established core workshop skills who want to explore granulation in depth and consider how this specialist technique could be incorporated into their own work.

You do not need previous experience of granulation, but you should be confident working independently at the bench and comfortable with fundamental jewellery-making processes including piercing, filing, annealing, rolling and soldering.

The Masterclass is particularly suited to makers interested in developing their understanding of precious metals, heat processes and surface decoration, and those looking for new ways to bring texture, detail and three-dimensional qualities into their designs.

This Masterclass is not designed as an introduction to jewellery making. You will get the most from the three days if you are confident in core bench skills and comfortable working independently in a workshop.

If you are still developing your skills in piercing, filing, annealing, rolling or soldering, we recommend building your workshop experience through one of our Essential Skills or Technical Workshops short courses before joining this Masterclass.

You do not, however, need any previous experience of granulation. Linda will introduce the technique from its foundations before supporting you to explore it in greater depth and consider how it could be applied within your own practice.

We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.

To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre training programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org

We believe that talent should not be held back. Here at the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we are open, accessible and inclusive to all. Our Access Grants support jewellers, silversmiths and allied industry practitioners to access our technical and business skills training.

If you need help to cover the cost of this Masterclass, you can apply for one of our Access Grants. To find out more and read our application criteria, click here

The Access Grants are delivered by the Goldsmiths' Centre and funded by the Goldsmiths’ Foundation.