Blog | Eileen Moylan

Time flies when you’re busy!

10.15.2012 by Eileen Moylan // Leave a Comment

I’ve neglected the blog recently as I’ve been so busy working on a jewellery commissions including with some really exciting and unique engagement ring designs I hope ot share with you very soon. So I’ve missed out on covering lots of major events in the jewellers calendar here in Ireland and the UK.

One noteworthy event that’s always fascinating to follow is the Goldsmiths Fair which takes place in London each year. The show runs for two weeks with different goldsmith exhibiting new designs each week.

So I thought I’d share a few pictures from one of the prestigious award winners from the two week show this year.

The first week the “Best New Design Award” was awarded to Max Warren. Peter Ting presented the award. It was lovely to see his name involved with Goldsmiths Fair as Peter was a guest lecturer in the art college I attended. He was the person that introduced me to the work of many great makers that still influence my designs to this day.

I’ve tried to find images of Max’s work. Unfortunately, none of the photos I could find fully captured his breathtaking pieces. Which, I think you’ll agree is understandable given the nature of the approach to his designs. His pieces are created using traditional silversmithing techniques. He uses hand engraving to amazing effect creating an extraordinary play on light and shade. Using different cuts, he engraves an image into the silver which alters as the light catches it from different angles. Now you’ll see why it doesn’t lend itself to being photographed!

Jacqueline Gestetner judged the award for week two and presented the prize to Adi Toch. I discussed Adi work last year. She creates these amazing forms which work are not only beautiful but very functional.

The bulbous vessels are just calling to be picked up and used. I also love her salt pots because they are so brilliantly practical. If they are knocked over none of the salt will spill out!

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Utensil, Current Approaches to Tableware

08.30.2012 by Eileen Moylan // Leave a Comment

I visited the National Craft Gallery before I went on holidays to see the Utensil exhibition. The exhibition was being held as part of Kilkenny Arts Festival and was curated by Angela O’ Kelly.

As you will know from reading this blog I love to see the work of other silversmiths, unfortunately in Ireland there a few practicing silversmiths so the opportunity to visit exhibitions of contemporary silver work is rare.

That’s why I was so excited when I saw the line up for the Utensil exhibition, it had gathered together an amazing list of makers including some silversmiths from both Ireland and abroad. I had seen some of these silversmiths exhibit in London over the years but it was great to see this work in the lovely setting of the National Craft Gallery.

I was anxious to go along on the first Saturday of the show as the curator Angela O’ Kelly was giving a talk, going through the various makers and the inspiration behind their work. As the exhibition was made up of artists working in a variety of mediums and emerging Irish makers I really wanted to find out more about the work and of course Angela’s thoughts when curating the show. The great thing about the show was how it combined product designers and makers in a variety of disciplines. This for me really reinforced the theme of the exhibition seeing how each maker responded to the idea of tableware and the ceremony of eating.

One of my favourite silversmiths David Clarke had his display of spoons there, I first saw his work when I was in college many years ago and have loved how his approach to silver has changed from his perfectly balanced silver fruit displays to these refashioned old spoons and teasets.

As well as giving us these beautiful objects to look at the show allows us examine our own relationship to the utensils we use, whether they be sentimental, decorative or functional.

The exhibition runs until the 29th of October so you have plenty of time to go along and see these beautiful pieces for yourself.

Geoffrey Mann’s Crossfire work in ceramic and glass. The video accompanying the work shows the vibrations of an argument (an audio excerpt from the film American Beauty) altering, melting and changing the inanimate objects on the table.

Chien-Wei Chang goblets, Martini, wine and Champagne flute…I’d happily sip my drinks from any of these!

Sharon Blakey and Ismini Samanidou’s gorgeous collaboration of textiles and ceramics.

Maike Dahl’s extremely thin silver forms which are influenced by take away disposable containers.

Debbis Wijskamp vibrantly colour paper forms.

Assay office replacement silver plaque competition

08.14.2012 by Eileen Moylan // Leave a Comment

I’ve written a few posts about the recent problem of silver and bronze sculptures and artworks being stolen from public places. One of the pieces that I discussed this year was the stealing of the Assay Office sign in Birmingham. The sign pictured above is a solid silver sign with 18ct gold lettering. Below the lettering is stamped a large hallmark. This plaque was put up in 1977 to mark the 100th anniversary of the assay office opening in 1877. Birmingham Assay Office is based in the heart of the city’s jewellery quarter and is the largest hallmarking office in the UK.

Having walked past that sign on a number of occasions I never realised it was solid silver! No doubt the sign has been melted and sold for scrap at this stage, it’s such a pity that this little piece of local history should be forgotten like this.

But thankfully rather than lament the loss of their silver sign the Birmingham Assay Office have taken this opportunity to commission a new sign from a local maker. The jewellery quarter is packed with amazingly talented designers and makers and this is a great chance to recognise and reward this talent.

When I heard about this commission I thought there’s no way they are going to have the sign made in silver again but fair play to them they’ve gotten a local supplier The Bullion Room on board as a sponsor. They are going to manufacture the sign using silver and studded diamonds which they have gifted to the assay office, they will also provide extra security.

Since designers are being given free rein with their ideas for the silver plaque I’m really looking forward to seeing the results. It’s great to see an awful story of theft be turned into a good news story celebrating the wealth of designers and makers in the Jewellery Quarter. I wonder has anything like this happen in Ireland?

Here are the guidelines for the name plaque commission

Designers must be operating from an address with a Birmingham postcode.
The plaque must be a maximum of 19cm wide but could be deeper
It must be suitable to be securely fixed to the stonework flanking the doorway

It should be made from materials suitable for exterior signage. Increased Security will also be provided courtesy of the Bullion Room so designers should not be concerned about creating a high value item.
The item must be suitable to be hallmarked sterling silver i.e. with a fineness of at least 925ppt.
The item will also carry a Diamond Jubilee Hallmark. The last date for striking this is 1st October 2012.
This is an official company sign; the words The Assay Office must be clearly legible
The design should be appropriate to the status of the UK’s largest Assay Office whose mission is to champion high quality standards in the jewellery, precious metal, and gemstone industry. Further information about the work of The Assay Office can be found at www.theassayoffice.co.uk
The designer is not required to manufacture the final article, as this will be undertaken by The Bullion Room. However, the design must be accompanied by a clear technical specification as to its intended method of manufacture.
Applications should include a full size drawing/impression/image of the finished item
The technical specification should detail method of construction, type, and quantity of materials to be used and suitable points of fixing.