Sheffield Assay Office supports glittering Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council Awards event

The Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council promotes excellence in craftsmanship and design through its annual awards for silversmithing, smallwork, jewellery and the allied crafts.

This year's awards were held at the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Hall in London on Monday 3 March with more than 300 guests in attendance.

The ceremony was opened by The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s chair, John Ball, and hosted by council vice-chair Judith Lockwood and trustee Maeve Gillies.

The awards, which were entered by a total of 567 people, comprised of 33 categories in both 2D design and 3D craft and design categories. Each category promoted excellence in jewellery and silversmithing, craftsmanship and design.

Sheffield Assay Office were delighted to have been involved in the judging this year, and to be one of 60 patrons and sponsors of the awards. This year Assay Master Ashley Carson presented the 2D Hand Rendering Award to Janet Weller for her design Secret Snowdrop. The design was exquisite, delicate, colourful, and exceptionally well annotated.

Ashley said: "This design was a clear winner from the outset. The judges and I could clearly see the attention to detail, the exquisite 2D rendering and depth of information presented. Many congratulations to Janet, she truly deserves recognition for her outstanding work’.

The Sheffield Assay Office were also delighted to see past students of the BA Jewellery and Metalwork programme at Sheffield Hallam University win awards. These included Lauren Nicholson-Little (Bronze Award for 3D Craft Juniors Jewellers), Una Lo (Silver Award in Conceptual Jewellery) and Sheffield Assay Office registered jeweller and silversmith Alice Fry (Bronze Award for Senior Chasers)

.

Among the Major and Premier awards presented, leading accolades included:

• The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award was given to Alexandra Raphael for The Honest Bowl - an exquisite plique-à-jour enamelled bowl
• The Goldsmiths’ Company Award was awarded to Janet Barber for the Moth Orchid Brooch made of carved magnesite, niobium, titanium and peppered with sapphires and diamonds
• The Lifetime Achievement Award sponsored by Thomas Fattorini Ltd was presented to Gay Penfold of Sheffield in recognition of her outstanding contribution and commitment to the craft and industry of silversmithing, jewellery and the allied crafts
• The College Trophy was awarded to The Bishopsland Educational Trust. Sheffield Assay Office are proud to support and assist the participants with free registration and hallmarking services.
• The Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award went to Blythe Jolley-Ellis, for the Art Deco Lapel Pins & Brooch, and Master Victoria Cornelius-Nori, who also won The Junior Award. The Senior Award went to Alexandra Raphael for The Honest Bowl.
• This year The Champagne Gosset Awards - Silversmiths was won by Pear Ng for the Champagne Vines and Roses candle holder design.

Missed the ceremony? Good news - it was livestreamed. Catch up with the celebrations on YouTube where you can watch the night unfold in the magical surrounds of the Livery Hall.

You can also visit the 2025 Awards Exhibition at the Assay Office Birmingham from 25 - 27 March 2025 with a programme of special events including talks, tours and open days.

The Sheffield Assay Office was established in 1773, under an Act of Parliament and today the company assays and hallmarks the precious metals - silver, gold, platinum and palladium. Sheffield Assay Office is one of only four UK assay offices who all work to uphold the Hallmarking Act of 1973 and continue to ensure consumer protection for customers purchasing precious metals.

To find out more about the whole range of services offered by Sheffield Assay Office, such as our hallmarking and analytical services, please email us at info@assayoffice.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website at http://www.assayoffice.co.uk/contact-us ,

Sign up here to all the latest news from Sheffield Assay Office direct to your inbox