Sheffield Assay Office attends the launch of Exploring Silver exhibition at David Mellor Design Museum
Published: 6th August 2019
Sheffield Assay Office were delighted to attend the opening night of the Exploring Silver; Form, Pattern and Texture exhibition at David Mellor Design Museum in Hathersage, Sheffield.
On Wednesday 31st July, 80 guests attended the private view of the Exploring Silver exhibition - guests included Guardians of the Sheffield Assay Office, silversmiths, designers and staff from Sheffield Hallam University, David Mellor, Modern Creatives, Peter Hoare Insurance, Yorkshire Artspace and Sheffield University.
Sheffield Assay Office and our curator Emma Paragreen partenered closely with Corin Mellor, managing director at David Mellor and one of only 30 Guardians’ at Sheffield Assay Office, as well as Shaun Taylor and Mark Fickling of Modern Creatives to select and curate 25 rarely seen objects from the Sheffield Assay Office precious metal collection.
The Sheffield Assay office collection was established in the early 1900s when a small amount of money was allocated by the Guardians’ to collect books and objects relating the work of the Assay Office. The collection of precious metal now stands at approx. 400 pieces spanning from 1773 to present day.
The 25 pieces selected are interesting in form, pattern and texture, dating from the1930s to present day. The pieces reflect the materials and styles that David himself has designed and many items have a direct connection with David and Corin. The display shows the further progression of our work with designers, silversmiths and academic institutions. The Sheffield Assay Office continues to support the trade by sponsoring and commissioning new objects from Sheffield Hallam University and Yorkshire Artspace's Starter Studio Programme, of which examples are on display at the museum.
The Exploring Silver; form, pattern and texture exhibition runs until 3rd October.
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,
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