Small Works

Machi de Waard six scored silver miniature vessels photo by Richard Valencia
My co-author, Janet Richardson, also won an award for her work. Here we are with our awards at Goldsmiths' Hall.

At the prestigious Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Awards, held on 4 March at London's Goldsmiths Hall, I won silver in Smallworkers design and bronze in Smallworkers and Modelmakers for my work of six scored silver miniature vessels (pictured above*).  These awards are hailed as the Oscar’s of the jewellery and silversmithing world and they are held annually to ‘promote the pursuit of excellence in craftsmanship and design amongst all those in the United Kingdom who work within silversmithing, goldsmithing, jewellery and allied crafts’.

My miniature vessels were scored with scoring tools I made myself and are made with Argentium silver. They are a series of vessels that are, from left to right: two vessels, a box with lid, a vessel, a box with moving components and a box with a friction fit lid, These vessels embody my commitment to hand making skills. These handmade pieces invite the viewer to handle them, feel their weight, touch their edges and explore their details.

*photo by Richard Valencia

Machi de Waard miniature vessels in Goldsmiths Hall
My miniature vessels on display at the exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall in London. (photo by Julia Skupny)