Dr Dora Thornton, Curator of the Goldsmiths' Company, celebrates the art medals of Jane McAdam Freud in the Company Collection.

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee brooch was made by award-winning British fine jewellery designer, David Marshall, and his team at their workshop in London’s iconic jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden. The piece, which represents the four nations, was commissioned by the Goldsmiths’ Company as a gift to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

In November 2020 the Goldsmiths’ Company invited leading silversmith Junko Mori to create a piece that would be emblematic of the Covid-19 experience. Dr. Dora Thornton tells the story of the commission, creation and loan of Hope in Balance, to the Wellcome Trust-funded touring exhibition Injecting Hope.

Nan Nan Liu is best known for her innovative, graceful sculptures which translate flowing organic form into silver. However in recent years she has achieved recognition for her mastery of paper and wire as materials for both conceptual modelling and artistic creation. Goldsmiths’ Company Curator, Dr Dora Thornton, explores the inspiration behind these organic, tactile pieces.