About the Site

Who's Who in Gold and Silver is part of the Goldsmiths' Company's ongoing support and promotion of excellence in design and craftsmanship of contemporary silverware, jewellery and art medals. The directory gives unrivalled access to the work of craftsmen throughout the United Kingdom. It illustrates a portfolio of work for each designer, along with descriptions, price guides and biographical information.

Searching the site
There are several ways to search the directory:

• Use the Quick Search keyword box in the top right corner of each page for a general search; for example, the name of a designer or a type of product. If your search is successful you will be able to browse a 'gallery' of thumbnail images and/or a list of designers which match your search criteria. You can compile your own personal Shortlist of items and even email images directly to a friend.
• Search by category by clicking on Silver (silverware), Jewellery or Art Medals in the top navigation bar. You can then refine your search even further by sub category, by designer or by introducing a keyword.
• A third option is to Search All Sections of the Directory. Doing so allows you to search by keyword and category at the same time. It also offers you the chance to view the type of items you might wish to commission. This may provide inspiration or help to refine your search.
• We also provide a Designers & Makers Index so that you can go straight to an individual craftsman's portfolio. Within this section you can restrict your search by region or category (Silver, Jewellery or Art Medals).

Purchasing items
Although you cannot purchase items online directly we provide contact details for each craftsman. The section entitled How to Purchase & Commission helps explain the purchasing process and provides useful guidelines for commissioning a bespoke item. We also provide contact details of Galleries & Retailers that stock or act on behalf of the craftsmen featured. Please note that prices depend on the size and complexity of work.

Help and useful information
Our Glossary of terms helps to explain the terminology used by silversmiths, jewellers and art medallists and we also provide Links to other useful websites. If you have any queries regarding the site or you are interested in joining the directory, please email tom.bowtell@thegoldsmiths.co.uk.

About The Goldsmiths' Company
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Twelve Great Livery Companies of the City of London. Its roots go back to the trade guilds of the Middle Ages. Since 1300 it has been responsible for hallmarking gold and silver articles and today continues to carry out this statutory function by operating the London Assay Office. This website is one of a number of Goldsmiths' Company initiatives to support contemporary craft. Other schemes include:

• Goldsmiths' Fair -  this is a selling exhibition, held each year in the first week of October where members of the public can purchase the work of 90 selected designers and craftsmen, many of whom are featured on this site. Goldsmiths' Fair 2005 is being held from 3rd October to 9th October 2005, 11am to 7pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Saturday & Sunday; admission by catalogue £5. Call 020 7606 7010 for more details.
• Apprenticeships – the Company continues to bind apprentices in this age-old and vital form of training to maintain pre-eminence of British craftsmanship; the Company also sponsors apprentices in international trade competitions such as the Skill Olympics.
• Bursaries – grants in the form of money or precious metal are made to students undertaking jewellery and silversmithing courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
• Competitions – the Company organises competitions such as the Young Designer-Silversmith Award to encourage and develop young talent within the art colleges. It also sponsors the annual trade competition, the Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards.
• Master classes – further education is provided by a series of exceptionally well-presented demonstrations of diverse aspects of the craft ranging from enamelling, engine-turning, setting and casting to merchandising, display and photography, all featuring the contemporary masters of their craft.
• Exhibitions - to promote the work of the goldsmith, the Company has an annual programme of spectacular shows of the craft. Critically acclaimed exhibitions have included the work of Rene Lalique, the French art nouveau jewellery, and Paul de Lamerie, the 18th century English silversmith.

To find out more about the Goldsmiths' Company, visit the Goldsmiths’ Company website.