From the outrageous cocktail rings of Andrew Grima and Ernest Blyth to the minimalist, engineered jewels of Friedrich Becker, all of the rings featured in A World of Invention, Rings from the Goldsmiths’ Company Collection 1961-2022, written by Dr Frances Parton and Dr Dora Thornton, form part of the Goldsmith’s Company’s Modern Jewellery Collection.
The origins of the Company’s collection of rings lie in the International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery held at Goldsmiths' Hall in 1961. The display showed what post-war jewellery could be and stimulated a new age of jewellery design as the Company became a major patron and promoter of studio art jewellery in precious metals. An explosion of new techniques, materials and design concepts saw the ring form change from a simple gem-set band to expressive portable sculpture.
A ring is the most personal type of jewel, and one which asks to be worn to be fully appreciated. To be successful, concept and expression should be one and the same thing. When that happens, handmade rings become a serious art form. The Goldsmiths’ Company continues to build on its long history supporting artist jewellers; groundbreaking artists of the studio jewellery movement such as Wendy Ramshaw and Gerda Flӧckinger feature alongside contemporary pioneers of the ring form such as Dorothy Hogg, Emefa Cole, Mark Nuell and Melanie Eddy.
‘From the starting point of a hoop around the finger, contemporary jewellers have opened up a world of invention…constrained only by the imagination of their makers and wearers.’ The international, innovative and extraordinary group of rings featured in this book beautifully illustrate this comment by jewellery curator and historian Rachel Church.
The book complements Dora Thornton’s recent publication ‘The Brooch Unpinned, The Goldsmiths’ Company Collection 1961-2021', which explores the way in which the brooch became a versatile art form during the same period.
Written by: Dr Dora Thornton - Curator of the Goldsmiths' Company Collection, and Dr Frances Parton - Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths' Company Collection.
Published by The Goldsmiths’ Company
Copyright text and images © The Goldsmiths’ Company, 2022.
ISBN 978-0-907814-40-5
Pages: 120, Soft Cover/folded
Dimensions: W180mm x H255mm x 12.5mm thick
From the outrageous cocktail rings of Andrew Grima and Ernest Blyth to the minimalist, engineered jewels of Friedrich Becker, all of the rings featured in A World of Invention, Rings from the Goldsmiths’ Company Collection 1961-2022, written by Dr Frances Parton and Dr Dora Thornton, form part of the Goldsmith’s Company’s Modern Jewellery Collection.
The origins of the Company’s collection of rings lie in the International Exhibition of Modern Jewellery held at Goldsmiths' Hall in 1961. The display showed what post-war jewellery could be and stimulated a new age of jewellery design as the Company became a major patron and promoter of studio art jewellery in precious metals. An explosion of new techniques, materials and design concepts saw the ring form change from a simple gem-set band to expressive portable sculpture.
A ring is the most personal type of jewel, and one which asks to be worn to be fully appreciated. To be successful, concept and expression should be one and the same thing. When that happens, handmade rings become a serious art form. The Goldsmiths’ Company continues to build on its long history supporting artist jewellers; groundbreaking artists of the studio jewellery movement such as Wendy Ramshaw and Gerda Flӧckinger feature alongside contemporary pioneers of the ring form such as Dorothy Hogg, Emefa Cole, Mark Nuell and Melanie Eddy.
‘From the starting point of a hoop around the finger, contemporary jewellers have opened up a world of invention…constrained only by the imagination of their makers and wearers.’ The international, innovative and extraordinary group of rings featured in this book beautifully illustrate this comment by jewellery curator and historian Rachel Church.
The book complements Dora Thornton’s recent publication ‘The Brooch Unpinned, The Goldsmiths’ Company Collection 1961-2021', which explores the way in which the brooch became a versatile art form during the same period.
Written by: Dr Dora Thornton - Curator of the Goldsmiths' Company Collection, and Dr Frances Parton - Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths' Company Collection.
Published by The Goldsmiths’ Company
Copyright text and images © The Goldsmiths’ Company, 2022.
ISBN 978-0-907814-40-5
Pages: 120, Soft Cover/folded
Dimensions: W180mm x H255mm x 12.5mm thick
Published by The Goldsmiths’ Company
Copyright text and images © The Goldsmiths’ Company, 2022.
