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At Lyon & Turnbull from Thursday – Elements 3 – hand crafted jewellery festival

November 1, 2017 7:54 pm

Roll up to get your Christmas presents here, whether you have to buy your own or drop hints this is the place to be.

Scotland’s Festival of Handcrafted Gold, Silver and Jewellery 2-5 November 2017 at Lyon & Turnbull 33 Broughton Place EH1 3RR

Incorporation of Goldsmiths says world-class Scottish designers are a national treasure as four-day celebration of finery gets underway

Scotland’s annual festival of jewellery, silver and gold opens tomorrow in Edinburgh – and hundreds of handcrafted pieces by some of the finest contemporary designers and makers will be on display.

We saw this beautiful necklace made by Jenny Deans which Courtney from Lyon & Turnbull was kind enough to show off for us.

Elements 3 is organised by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Lyon & Turnbull and involves:

A sale of work by 50 specially selected designers and makers, many from Scotland
50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship, an exhibition of work by leading Scottish, UK and international designers
Jewellery and silversmithing demonstrations
Children’s craft activities
Display of work by Maureen Edgar, Scotland’s great enameller
Designer jewellery made from ethically-sourced precious metals

Elements 3 is a chance to see some of Scotland’s best handcrafted gold, silver and jewellery and to meet the makers. It also brings some of the best work from other parts of the world to Scotland.

The festival takes place at the Lyon & Turnbull auction rooms, an 18^th century church in Edinburgh’s Broughton Place.

Mary Michel, Director of the Incorporation, said: “Scotland has some of the finest designers of handcrafted gold, silver and jewellery in the world. They are a national treasure and their work is something that’s really worth shouting about.

“Elements provides a rare chance to meet some of them and see their exquisite creations.

“The festival also offers a superb chance to enjoy talks, events and activities as well as see a remarkable exhibition of jewellery and other works by 50 international artists and designers.”

Among those whose work is included in the sale (where prices start at as little as £25) are Eileen Gatt from Ross-shire and Edinburgh-based Stacey Bentley.

Eileen Gatt from the Black Isle, Highlands is pictured with a silver honeypot – much of her jewellery and other work is designed to highlight the plight of endangered species. She is working with the RSPB on a bumble bee project in Orkney.

The 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship exhibition has been created by leading modern jewellery curators Amanda Game, former Director of the Scottish Gallery, and Professor Dorothy Hogg MBE, designer and former Head of Jewellery and Silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art.

The exhibition features more than 70 pieces including modern interpretations of remarkable craftsmanship in gold such as Sun Discby Perthshire-based designer Malcolm Appleby and a dramatic ring by Jacqueline Mina, originally commissioned for a private collection.

Many of the exhibits show an inventive approach to both materials and design ranging from paper to silver and plastics.

Amanda said: “Dorothy and I wanted to support the Elements project by bringing together some very different contemporary works that reveal the magical possibilities of both human imagination and dedicated craftsmanship in this field.

“Ranging from Maria Hanson’s exploration of the deconstructed materials of our mobile phones to Giovanni Corvaja’s breathtaking experiments in precious metals, we invite all to see this show in the context of Elements and its ambition to create new opportunities for inventive, ethical and skillful design and craftsmanship in twenty-first century Scotland.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work on this project with Mary Michel and her team in such a beautiful venue. Loans have come from generous private collectors, as well as artists’ studios to enable this display and our thanks go to them.”

The exhibition title 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship (originally the title for a surrealist text by artist Salvador Dali in the 1940s) was chosen by the curators as it suggested elements of works that they both admire: works that evoke curiosity, stimulate imagination and demonstrate the magical possibilities of craftsmanship.

Ruth Davis, Jewellery and Silver Specialist at Lyon & Turnbull added: “We are very excited to welcome Elements back to our saleroom for the third time. The fair and exhibition have grown in terms of the number of exhibitors and visitors each year, and there is such a diverse range of craftsmen and women displaying their unique pieces.

“We are confident visitors will find even more interesting and educational than ever.”

The exhibition is supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund.

Helena Ward, Creative Industries Manager at Creative Scotland said: “This festival will showcase makers from a diverse range of practice in precious metal, who are taking their craft to a new level though materials and technical skills. It will also provide visitors with the rare opportunity to meet craft makers from all over the UK, celebrate their extraordinary craftmanship – and perhaps buy a piece of craft too.”

Elements 3 takes place between 2 to 5 November 2017. Normal opening times are 11am to 6pm daily for the duration of the fair. It is at 33 Broughton Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3RR.

Entry to the fair is by catalogue and costs £5 (allows unlimited access for the duration of the festival). Under 16s free admission.