Materials: 18ct gold, silver, diamonds and rock crystal
Dimensions: height 400mm.
A table centre piece with four bowls. The top bowl is of carved rock crystal complete with a saw pierced and diamond set lid, the pommel ball is also rock crystal. There are three silver guilloche enamelled bowls around the central column which is also guilloche enameled, the 3 bowls and central column have 18ct gold saw pierced overlays and between each bowl is a posy of 18ct gold enamelled flowers with diamond set stamens, each posy set in a rock crystal vase.
Photo credit: James Miller FIPG
James Miller
James Miller Design
Egham, Surrey. UK
I am a traditional trade trained English goldsmith. I served an official,Goldsmith’s Company indentured apprenticeship at one of London’s major gold and silver companies, making work for London’s main gold and silver outlets, such as Garrard and Asprey.I worked for 15 years at this company before changing to another, where I honed my goldsmith skills when I was asked to create Faberge type items such as ornate gold and enamelled Easter eggs. After 9 years at this company I left their employ and formed my own company, and built up a customer base who wanted to purchase my unique gold and silver items.My work is influenced by natural forms, I try to include flora and fauna in many of my creations.
These containers and vessels definitely hold their place in the world of stunning art objects as well as in the world of metalsmithing.
Since the dawn of time humans have created containers to hold things that were important to them, from large vessels to hold food and harvests to intimate containers for small precious things. They might hold memories, ashes, medicine, beverage, fruit or food - but all spring from the imagination and skill of the maker. Some have specific religious functions, some are meant for everyday use. When one thinks of a vessel or container the inclination is to think of something with solid walls - yet many of these works involve the exploration of positive and negative space, and the use of negative space to help create the illusion of the wall of the vessel.
As the world’s largest jewelry related internet site, Ganoksin strives to develop exhibitions showcasing work from around the world. This exhibition was open to all metalsmiths, professional and amateur, advanced and beginner. Participants are from The Netherlands, the USA, Canada, Australia, Costa Rica, the United Kingdom, Israel, Hong Kong, Colombia, Romania, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia and Denmark. While most of the pieces are by an individual metalsmith, some are collaborations, one of three artists spanning 50 years.
In total 319 artists contributed 729 show pieces for the permanent online exhibition.
Objects in the exhibition include boxes, lockets, urns, ash containers, bowls, wine cups, reliquaries, match holders, vases, teapots, pitchers, sugar bowls, baskets, nests, pillboxes, clutches and a range of sculptural forms. A variety of techniques are showcased covering a wide range of metalsmithing techniques. Materials used include everything from gold and silver to less expensive metals. Ornamentation includes the addition of enamel, chasing and repousse’, gemstones and found objects.
The exhibition was curated by Beth Wicker, President of the North Carolina Society of Goldsmiths in the United States, and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Technical College in South Carolina. Director of the exhibition is Hanuman Aspler, founder of The Ganoksin Project, the world’s largest internet jewelry site.
