Publications

Books on the history of the Company, exhibition catalogues and the annual Goldsmiths' Review are available for purchase from The Library.

Terms:

25% discount to booksellers (discount negotiable for bulk purchases)
10% discount for personal collection from the Hall
* This is not available at reduced price.

All cheques should be made payable to The Goldsmiths' Company

Please contact the Library by telephone on 020 7606 7010 or email library@thegoldsmiths.co.uk

Books

£20 The Early History of the Goldsmiths' Company 1327-1509, by T F Reddaway with “The Book of Ordinances 1478-83”, edited by L E M Walker. London, Edward Arnold, 1975. 408p., 17 plates. This very readable account by a former Professor of London history examines the growth of one of the Great Livery Companies from its early beginnings within the context of the development of London in the later mediaeval period. The author’s judicious choice of material recorded in the Company’s Minute Books brings to life the personalities and lives of these London citizens who laid the foundations for the present Company.

£45 Unravelling the mystery: the story of the Goldsmiths' Company in the 20th century, by Peter Jenkins, London, The Goldsmiths' Company and Third Millennium Publishing, 2000, 2 volumes in a slip case. Peter Jenkins, the former Clerk, tells the story of one of the Great Livery companies of the City of London in the twentieth century. The author has been able to consult all the minutes, briefing papers and files of the Goldsmiths' Company. He has brought together the strands of operations as diverse as the Assay Office, the Company’s charities, its Hall and its support for its trade of goldsmithing and silversmithing, particularly the encouragement of better design and craftsmanship. The result is a critical review of the merit and success of the Company’s activities. ISBN: 0 9536969 4 4.

Catalogues and Booklets

£8 Catalogue of Corporation Plate of England and Wales, by J F Hayward. London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1952. 2 vols. Vol. 1 (text) 62p.; Vol 2 (illus.) 48p., 52 illus., pb. 249 exhibits, including plate, insignia of office, swords of state and maces, ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day are described in detail.

£10 The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as Patrons of their craft 1919-1953, by George R Hughes. London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1965. 142p., 67 illus., pb. This personal review of the former Clerk’s years at the Hall gives a fascinating insight into the Company’s endeavours to promote the craft in the inter-war years. The latter half of the volume contains a catalogue of the plate purchased by the Company in that period and includes interesting biographical detail of the prominent designers of the day, such as Gleadowe, Murphy and Stabler.

£4.50 The Schroder Collection: Virtuoso Goldsmiths’ Work from the Age of Humanism, by T Schroder. London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1979. 88p., 95 illus. (16 col), pb. This excellent, well illustrated catalogue contains full descriptive details of pieces of European silver of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries which form the major part of this exceptional collection. ISBN: 0 907814 09 3.

£10 Leslie Durbin. Fifty years of silversmithing, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1982. 40p., 38 illus., 2 line drawings, pb. A retrospective exhibition of the work of one of England’s leading designers in silver, illustrating his many public and private commissions. ISBN: 0 907814 16 6.

£5 Recent acquisitions by the Goldsmiths’ Company 1975-1985, by R Ransome Wallis, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1985. 23p., 33 illus (8 col.) pb. A catalogue of some of the new and exciting additions to the Goldsmiths’ Company’s collection over the last 10 years which were exhibited in Goldsmiths’ Hall. ISBN: 0 907814 18 2.

£5 The Courtauld family: Huguenot silversmiths, by Susan M Hare, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1985. 14p., pb. A small exhibition catalogue, augmenting the Museum of London’s exhibition “The Quiet Conquest”, describes 35 pieces of silver and some documents which relate to the three generations of the Courtauld family. ISBN: 0 907814 17 4.

£20 The Jewellery of Rene Lalique, by Vivienne Becker. London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1987. 192p., 249 illus. (141 col.), pb. This profusely illustrated catalogue of the marvellous exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, curated by the Art Nouveau expert, Vivienne Becker, shows many of the famous jewels on which Rene Lalique’s reputation rests. His use of non-precious materials marks him as a jeweller of genius, ahead of his time and his ability to encapsulate emotions, thoughts, concepts, poetry and narrative in his jewellery is recognised in the continued appeal of his work to collectors and the public. ISBN: 0 140 0541.

£10 Retrospective: Alex Styles, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1988. 64p., 59 illus., pb. With foreword by Robert Goodden, this catalogue celebrates 40 years’ work of the staff designer for the famous firm of Garrards, the Crown Jewellers. Regalia, corporate presentation and domestic silver and trophies are illustrated to show the depth and range of this talented designer.

£20 Paul de Lamerie - The work of England’s Master Silversmith 1688 -1751, by S M Hare. London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1990. 181p., 189 illus. (103 col.), pb. This catalogue of the first major exhibition of this extraordinary 18th century silversmith is marked by its attention to the patrons of Paul de Lamerie and the context of his work. Essays by Susan Hare, Michael Snodin and Dr Helen Clifford draw out the details of his life, the sources of inspiration for his designs and the period and trade in which he lived and thrived. Exhibits from private and public collections in this country and abroad present an unrivalled collection of the best works of England’s premier silversmith. ISBN: 0 907814 19 0.

£10 Kevin Coates - Goldsmith, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1991. 64p., 41 colour illus., approx 100 black & white line drawings, port. Bibliog. p.64. Catalogue of exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, 26 June -19 July 1991. ISBN: 0 907814 21 2.

£10 Grima - Retrospective, Lugano, Andrew Grima, 1991. 102p. 28 colour illus., approx. 300 black and white line drawings, port. Bibliog. p.101. Catalogue of exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, 26 June-19 July 1991. Following the 1961 Exhibition of International Jewellery Andrew Grima embraced modern jewellery and became the foremost jewellery designer in the West End of London. His premier creations are illustrated in full page colour plates which capture the essence of his style.

£10 Treasures from the Pforzheim Collection, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1993. 72p., 57 plates, with a foreword by Fritz Falk, Curator of the Jewellery Museum, Pforzheim and an introduction by Chris Walton, the Director of the exhibition. A sumptuous full colour catalogue detailing the 260 exhibits on loan including the famous Greek arm bracelet of the 3rd century BC, the fabulous “Octopus and Butterfly” brooch by Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach and many other pieces from BC to the present day. ISBN: 0 907814 247.

£5 Contemporary silver tableware, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1996. 30p., illus (colour). Catalogue of an exhibition of 26 silversmiths including brief biographies and photographs of their work. ISBN: 0 907 814 26 3.

£7 British Master Goldsmiths, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1997, 75p., illus. (colour). Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Hall between 29 May-28 June 1997 to celebrate design and craftsmanship in works from 24 selected master goldsmiths and jewellers. The catalogue, written by Chris Walton the director of the exhibition, features each designer-craftsman individually with a separate CV of their career, including Burton, Coates, Hogg, McCallum and Webster. ISBN: 907814 27 1.

£20 Treasures of the 20th Century, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 2000, 184p, 569 colour illus. Catalogue for the exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, 25th May to 21st July 2000. Compiled by the curator, Rosemary Ransome Wallis, this catalogue includes the best pieces of silver, jewellery and art medals, collected by the Goldsmiths' Company in the 20th century. Beautifully illustrated in colour throughout , the reader can see vividly the influences of movements in art reflected in the objects made for ceremonial and domestic use and purchased by one of London’s Great Livery Companies. An appendix of over 300 sponsors’ marks is an invaluable aid to collectors and dealers alike. ISBN: 0 907814 30 1

£5 Celebration in Gold & Silver, London, Goldsmiths' Company, 2002, 80p., illus., pb. This catalogue of the exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, provides a retrospective of both public and private commissions executed by British jewellers and silversmiths during the first 50 years of the reign of Her Majesty The Queen. It illustrates through a range of traditional and innovative objects the changes in design and the developments of new techniques. ISBN: 0907814 31 X

£2.50 Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London, by Susan M Hare, Norwich, priv. print by Jarrold for the Goldsmiths’ Company, 1996, 36p., illus (colour). This revised edition, in full colour, traces the history of the site in Foster Lane from the 14th century century to the present day with details of the three Halls including the present one.

£10 Creation: An Insight into the Mind of the Modern Silversmith, London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2004, 64pp, over 90 colour illus. Catalogue (and DVD) for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 27 May-10 July, 2004. The exhibition showcased 13 silversmiths, who had been filmed discussing their particular creative process as they developed pieces in their workshops. These films were shown alongside their work. The catalogue features profiles and personal statements of the silversmiths with illustrations of some of the exhibits. The accompanying DVD was a collaboration between the silversmiths and the film students of Ravensbourne College which resulted in 13 strikingly different and fascinating stories, giving the viewer a rare opportunity to see the creative process and personality behind the exhibits.

£20 Treasures of the English Church: A Thousand Years of Sacred Gold and Silver, London, The Goldsmiths' Company with Paul Holberton Publishing, 2008, 144pp., 170 illus. Edited by Timothy Schroder, this publication accompanied the very successful exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall in the summer of 2008. With contributions from authoritative writers such as Timothy Kent, Philippa Glanville, William Jacob, James Lomax, Tessa Murdoch and Eric Turner, this publication is essential reading for those interested in the history of English church plate.

£10 Treasures of Today: Silver from Goldsmiths' Hall, London 1980-2008, London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2008, 112pp., over 136 colour illus. Compiled by the Goldsmiths' Company's curator, Rosemary Ransome Wallis, this illustrated catalogue was published to accompany a successful touring exhibition showing some of the Company's most recent silver acquisitions. The catalogue introduces the public to the signature styles of over 50 artists working today, and illustrates the diversity of contemporary silversmithing.

£10 Creation II: An Insight into the Mind of the Modern Artist-Jeweller, London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2009, 34pp., 28 colour illus. Catalogue (and DVD) for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 29 May-11 July 2009. This exhibition focused on the creative talents of an elite group of 12 distinguished artist- jewellers, individually chosen by the curator, Mary La Trobe-Bateman. The DVD which accompanies the catalogue features short films of ten of the exhibiting jewellers made by students from Goldsmiths' College (London), the International Film School (University of Wales) and Edinburgh College of Art.

Goldsmiths Review 2011 £5 Goldsmiths’ Review 2010/2011, London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 2011, 64pp., 81 colour illus, 24 black and white. The annual review covering the Company’s year from May 2010 – May 2011 contains an interview with the Prime Warden, the silversmith Hector Miller; an insight into the exhibition Mindful of Silver from its curator, Julie Chamberlain; and articles on the work of skilled craftspeople such as Tony Bedford, Chris Knight, Gillie Hoyte Byrom and Jacqueline Mina. For those with an interest in history, Tracey Hill writes about in the Lord Mayor’s Show in the 17th century and tales of intrigue are uncovered in the Company’s charity archives. Readers can also look behind the scenes to discover more about charitable giving today, and find out about major projects such as the Goldsmiths’ Centre. ISSN: 0953-0355.

£5 Mindful of Silver, London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2011, 28pp., 37 colour illus. Catalogue for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 27 May – 16 July 2011, curated by Julie Chamberlain. This exhibition explored the creative process by which silversmiths develop ideas into objects. The catalogue reveals the journey behind 12 vessels by leading contemporary British silversmiths - Vladimir Böhm, David Clarke, Rebecca de Quin, Sarah Denny, Alistair McCallum, Grant McCaig, Hector Miller, Peter Musson, Theresa Nguyen, Michael Rowe, Toby Russell and Lucian Taylor.