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Happy 90th Birthday to Celebrated Silversmith, Keith Tyssen

Published: 7th May 2024

Keith Tyssen, a well-known designer silversmith, especially to us here at Sheffield Assay Office, celebrated a landmark birthday this weekend, reaching the ripe old age of 90!

Keith registered his sponsor's mark in October 1960 when our Office was located on Portobello Street, Sheffield, and over the years he has submitted many wonderful pieces of silver for assay and hallmarking

One very special piece by Keith is the Millennium punch bowl, currently on display at Millennium Gallery, Sheffield Museums Trust.

Keith Tyssen & Alex Brogden with Millenium Punch Bowl

(Keith Tyssen (right) & Alex Brogden with Millenium Punch Bowl)

Keith Tyssen - Punch Party at Sheffield Assay Office

(Keith Tyssen (third from the left) at the Sheffield Assay Office Punch Party)

Keith has always played an active role for Sheffield Assay Office; supporting young silversmiths through his teaching at the College of Art, Psalter Lane; mentoring silversmiths at Yorkshire Artspace; and involvement with many collaborations and initiatives to promote metalworking across the City.

He has also contributed greatly as a Trustee of the Mary Parsons Charity for retired silversmiths of the City of Sheffield.

Sheffield Assay Office - Mary Parsons featuring Keith Tyssen

(KeithTyssen (centre) at Mary Parson's annual service for retired silversmiths)

As Keith turns 90 this week, our Assay Master, Ashley Carson and all the staff here at Sheffield Assay Office would like to wish Keith a very, very happy birthday.


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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