The Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Competition for 2006 attracted over 800 entries with strong competition in the Fashion Jewellers and Design sections.

Founded in 1908 the Council still carries forward its original remit to encourage, stimulate and promote the pursuit of excellence in craftsmanship and design amongst all those in the UK engaged in Silversmithing, Goldsmithing, Jewellery and the Allied Crafts.

Master Silversmith - Totally handmade, stunning silverware.

The pinnacle of any career in British silversmithing is to win the Jacques Cartier Memorial prize at the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Awards held at Goldsmiths' Hall in the City of London.

The prize is adjudicated by the finest silversmiths, who judge that a silversmith has achieved the highest possible standards in his craft. Ray Walton not only achieved this accolade but also won the prestigious Goldsmiths' Company Award given for craftsmanship and design, as well as Best Senior in the Silversmithing category at the 2006 awards. Ray swept the board with his beautifully designed and crafted silver dish and cover.
Ray said after the awards ceremony, “I am absolutely overwhelmed to win the Cartier and Goldsmiths' prizes and so pleased to have so many people say such nice things about my work. Being accepted by one's peer group and the previous generation of great silversmiths means a great deal to me.”

The design of the winning piece came directly from Ray's previous year's prize winning work at the Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Awards. Ray explained, “I won a Silver award in the Chasing category and learnt that the piece I had made was not contemporary enough to win a major prize. So I designed another much more contemporary piece based on the onion shape of Russian Orthodox church domes. The outside design of the dish alludes to the layers of an onion. I do think that the dish would make a great fish platter; plaice with onions served on my dish would be a real treat,” Ray said with a smile.

More seriously Ray was aware that to win a major prize a piece has to be of a certain importance, proportion, presence and difficulty. The dish and cover set with a lapis lazuli top was designed by Ray to exhibit his design and craft skills. The technical difficult was in the hammering, Ray explained, “The problem with hammering a piece of this size is to keep it under control. The piece builds up tensions, which for this piece meant annealing over 25-30 times to release the build up of stresses which hammering produces. Keeping the piece flat and keeping the work completely precise, even though it is a hand process, is the challenge. The lid had to fit exactly whichever way it is laid.” He further commented, “I think that I won because of the underside of the dish. To an expert it demonstrates that, from underneath, the outside section could only have been hammered by hand.”

The ethos of Ray Walton is unusual in a period of mass production, he comments, “Handmade craftsmanship is important to me; following in the tradition of fine antiques. Craftsmanship wins over mass produced pieces because you don't have to compromise with your design ideas. The finer points of the design get lost in a mass produced piece. The main driver, for me, is that silversmithing is about making the silver do what you really want it to do.”

Ray has been self-employed for the last 24 years with a highly varied client base including museums for restoration work and shops including Asprey in London's West End for commissions and working within the trade on pieces that need my expertise. More recently he has been involved in television work demonstrating ancient techniques and making replicas.

Walton's appreciation of fine silver craftsmanship comes from restoring the work of some of the greats such as Paul De Lamerie, Matthew Boulton, Paul Storr, Omer Ramsden and Robert Hennell. He really feels that he has served his apprenticeship and wants to create his own mark on silversmithing history. Walton now feels that it is time for him to do everything his own way. He finished by saying, “I want to make great, beautiful, silverware speculatively and to commission; totally handmade, stunning silverware.

Ray would like to thank and acknowledge the work of David May, silversmith and polisher, who won the Silver prize in the Polishing section for the award winning dish and cover.

In the previous competitions Dave May has also won two Golds, four Silvers and a number of commended awards.

Neil Rayment - Silversmith and actor.

Following his success at the Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council Awards Neil Rayment was interviewed by Gordon Hamme.

“In 2005 I started a new and innovative bureau service designing and manufacturing for the trade specialising in CAD and digital photography. In that first year of business I won a commendation at the Goldsmiths' Crafts & Design Council Awards and in 2006 we have won Gold & Silver at the Design Awards, which I am over the moon about having been in the trade some sixteen years.

In 1994 I won Young Designer of the year at the RJ UK Jewellery Awards, which coincidently was when I first started acting. There is a strange parallel with my two most recent successes. In 2005 Matrix Reloaded was released and I played a silver dread-wearing kung-fu kicking bad boy, nicknamed the virus twin. Also in that year after a lot of studying and investment I launched my computer-aided bureau service.”

Neil continued, “A piece of jewellery should be as individual as the client. That's why we at Advanced Jewel-Craft only create bespoke pieces for our customers. Our aim: to create something special for someone special.

AJC make individual jewellery that is uncompromising in style and craftsmanship. We start by having a consultation, often at the client's home. During the course of this discussion I sketch up the customers' vision. Back at our studio AJC create a computerised 3D model of the design. I then send a private internet link, enabling the customer to view the commission on their computer. We then incorporate the clients' feedback into the design; and once they're satisfied with the result, AJC go into the workshop. Approximately 3 weeks later the piece is delivered. Result: happiness all round.”
Advanced Jewel Craft (AJC)

Pioneering the computer aided design and manufacture of jewellery to create bespoke pieces with unrivalled precision and accuracy.

Website: www.advancedjc.com

Phone: 02920 912 866

Email: neil@advancedjc.com

DAVRAN JEWELLERY

Buy the new ‘Cross of St. George” cufflinks, tie tacks and pendant, from Davran.

St. Georges day 23rd of April is becoming more of a celebration, and more and more men are sporting this ancient flag in some way. It is a gift for men that should sell well for Father's Day, Birthdays and Christmas as well.

We are manufacturing and stocking the cufflinks and tie tacks in 9ct., silver or brass hard gold plated, the enamelling is cold cure. We are only producing the pendants in 9ct or silver, the chain is not supplied with the item.

Please speak to John on 0121 212 1662 for further details.