Posts filed in Silver

Silver

Preparing for Candlemas

Whilst some are getting ready for Advent and the Christmas season, at Eton we are looking forward to another Christian festival.  Candlemas commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, and falls on 2nd February – the fortieth, and some say final, day of Christmas.  In 2018, a special Candlemas service will be held in the College Chapel to install a newly commissioned silver altar set.

The pair of candlesticks are being made by Rod Kelly, one of the UK’s leading silversmiths, who specialises in low relief chasing.  Rod has established the South House Silver Workshop Trust to support young graduate silversmiths, who visit his workshop in Shetland to be mentored and receive technical training.

The chalice and patten are being made by Miriam Hanid, who has been working as a professional silversmith since 2008.  Her training has included a Master Craftsman Internship with Rod Kelly sponsored by the Goldsmiths’ Company.  Four of her pieces won awards in the 2017 Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Awards.

The gallery below shows Rod and Miriam’s recent work on the altar set in progress.

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Images by Rod Kelly and Miriam Hanid; text by Lucy Gwynn, Deputy Librarian

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Silver

Lily and rose: the progress of the silver commission for College Chapel

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends of the Eton College Collections and some associated donors, the college has been able to commission a pair of candlesticks and a chalice and paten for College Chapel.  The silversmiths working on this commission, Rod Kelly and Miriam Hanid, have shared with us some photographs of their progress.

The design for the chasing and engraving on the Lily Chalice
Wooden model of the chalice being turned on a lathe.
Miriam’s design for the Lily paten seen from above
The silver chalice in its initial form – its machined, spun state. The machined silver chalice will be smoothed and polished before the chased pattern is added.
The design for the Lily paten in cross-section with the chalice
After chasing and engraving the lilies on the chalice, Miriam will finish the piece in a satin brushed finish. The interior of the bowl will be gilded in lemon gold.
Maquette for the chalice by Miriam Hanid.
Model for the Altar Candlesticks with four half round silver tubes as part of the construction of the knop.
Rod Kelly establishing the height of the candlestick. The wooden shaft will eventually be made in English Walnut but at this stage it is made in pine as part of the model.
Rod Kelly scoring the silver with a sharpened cutter. The silver can then be folded along the score to produce the right profile.
Two candlesticks in the window of the workshop that overlooks the sea.
Two models with the hand-made silver sections in place. Each side has been cut, shaped by hand, and then soldered together to produce the final shape.
Rod Kelly offering up the silver knop section to the second candlestick.
Rod Kelly with the first viewing of the silver sections in place.

 

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