The Crafts Council's Jewellery Skills Course has been running successfully for 10 years – five 2-year courses. It has matured and grown beyond its original mandate of direct provision of technical skills – although that is still its prime function. Design is also an integral and increasingly important aspect of this course.

Past trainees continue to gain added experience, not only in Ireland, but also in European workshops where our training is acknowledged to be on a par with their own countries three year Goldsmith college training. Ex-trainees have worked in England, Holland, Germany, France, Scotland and Sweden. They enjoy almost full-time employment when they complete the course.

The original reason for starting the Silver Shield was to challenge the trainees on the Crafts Council of Irelands Jewelry Skills course. Making them aware of what they had actually learnt over two years and are now capable of doing. Helping them to realize that everything is possible and that they are capable of much more than they can imagine.

We have had these skills passed on to us, and even though the trainees are at an early stage of their career they have acquired substantial knowledge in the Gold and Silversmithing field.

We also wanted everything to be of Ireland, fashioned by Irish hands and eyes. All we have used has a meaning and in many cases is symbolic

- The circle, a symbol of life and eternity.

- Five is the symbol of Man - the symbol
of the journey of the spirit.

- Trees - some real, some imaginary.

- The colours of green and blue symbolising earth and water – the meaning of life.

- The gem stones are all quartz, a common stone that is found all over the planet and in Ireland – the colours again are of earth and water - Amethyst, Rock crystal, Smokey quartz, Chalcedony and Citrine.

Some are set in “Bezel” settings around the edge while others are “Pave” set in the trees.
- The trees both real and imaginary are made by Chasing and Repousse work.
- The Harp is from the Four Courts and used as the logo for The Irish Architectural Archive

- An engraved Celtic interlacing design representing roots are shown
over a swirling textured underground covered in gold leaf.
- This centre is surrounded by fired enamel work,

Champleve waves over a dusted fired enamel background.

- The enameling is edged with different shapes of blocks and chenier.

- Finally, the centre of a rough Amethyst crystal in a surround of cast silver crystals.

All set in a specially made base of Irish Elm by wood turner Emmet Kane.
The names of the trainees from the five previous courses are hidden in the trees, among the leaves – new growth.

The names of the present trainees, those who have made this piece, can be seen between the trees and the outer edge.
Jessica Poole

Helena Malone

Jerome McCann

Eimear Looney

Christopher Heltzel

Sara Hunter

Noel Smart

James Cullen

Steven Geldof

Colette Ederry

Isobel Devitt

Course Trainer Jane Huston and the names of the main visiting trainers are on the tree trunks nearer the tree roots – an older generation.
Because literature and music are so much part of who we are as a culture, between the trees are “Words” - all by Irish men and women.

(These words are specially etched into silver and demonstrate new Computer technology) .

- Seamus Heaney and William Butler Yeats - both Nobel Laureates, voices

past and the present.

- A new hymn by Herbert O'Driscoll, a priest of the Church of Ireland writer and theologian, representing the spirituality and Christian heritage of Ireland.

- Part of a poem by Eavan Boland about the past and about Dublin, our capital city.

- Amergin, the oldest poetry known in Ireland, along with a chant

as Amergin sets foot on Irish soil for the first time.

- The image of Bob Geldorf and the symbols of Live Aid and Live 8,

music and hope for the future.

- A Sean Nós saying - ....” You won't appreciate it until it is gone”.

Ní aireóidh muid í go dtí go mbeidh sí imithe

Made in sterling silver and weighing nearly seven kilos, this is one of the largest pieces of its kind to be Hallmarked in the Republic of Ireland.

The large back plate was generously donated by Cookson Precious Metals.

*Very special thanks to Seamus Heaney, the W.B. Yeats Foundation,

Herbert O'Driscoll, Eavan Boland and Bob Geldof for their kind permission to use their words. Not only did Herbert O'Driscoll write a hymn for us, he spent invaluable hours directing and helping with language, copyright issues and editing.

Also thanks to Canon George Salter and Dick Sewell for their time and help.

CCoI Skills Training
Crafts Council of Ireland

t: 353 (0)56 7761804

f: 353 (0)56 7763754

e: amanda@ccoi.ie

www.ccoi.ie