New Commissions to Celebrate Sheffield Assay Office's 250th Anniversary
Published: 21st September 2023
The team at Sheffield Assay Office have been busy behind the scenes for months working with Silversmiths Colette Bishop and Shinta Nakajima to create new works of art in honour of our 250th anniversary.
Assay Master Ashley Carson said; "Colette has spent over three months making this wonderful dish and equally Shinta has spent considerable hours in his workshop. I am absolutely delighted with the two commissions and these are fabulous editions to the collection in the special celebratory year."
Sheffield Assay Office 250th Anniversary Commissions Dish
Sheffield’s Hallmarking History made from Britannia silver and 22 carat gold plated detail
Colette Bishop 2023
The dish was spun into its initial shape before a rim was soldered to the edge to give the dish stability. Chasing and repoussé is the technique used to achieve the surface pattern and decoration. The design is based on the Sheffield Assay Office town mark — the rose. The rose fills the piece and, in each petal, reveals a piece of the story as follows:
- Crown – the original town mark for Sheffield Assay Office before it changed to the rose in 1975
- 1773 – the year the Sheffield assay office was established
- E – the first date letter for the Earl of Effingham who was Chairman of the Guardians’ of the Standard of wrought plate within the town of Sheffield
- Hammer and anvil – to represent Sheffield’s proud silversmithing industry
- Crucible melting steel – to represent Sheffield world class steel industry
The inner petals have the traditional symbols of metal applied by assay offices denoting the fineness of metal
- Lion – for Sterling Silver
- Figure of Britannia – a helmeted women wielding a trident and shield for Britannia Silver
- Crown – for Gold
- Orb – for Platinum
- Head of Pallas Athena – for Palladium
Speaking of her piece, Colette Bishop said "This opportunity was very exciting, to create and design a bespoke piece for this historical milestone. I have thoroughly enjoyed researching and designing this commission, I wanted to tell a story and educate people about the history and the importance of Sheffield Assay Office and hallmarking.
The making of this commemorative dish has allowed me to challenge myself, my abilities, skills and techniques. Some tools/punches were made to achieve the intricate details in the design. I am very pleased with what I have accomplished, showcasing traditional silversmithing techniques such as fabrication, chasing and repousse.
I hope the viewer enjoys the story told in the petals of the dish as much as I have enjoyed this whole process from start to finish."
Embraced
White Rose Britannia Silver
Shinta Nakajima 2023
To create this exquisite piece, 400 silver petals were textured by rolling with Khadi paper for a subtle texture, and formed by hammering and soldering them to a sphere.
The piece is inspired by the regional historical symbol white rose and Shinta intended to embrace the invisible existence with the symbolical significances.
Petals of innocence are formed according to the angel formation of the “Wilton diptych” and the divine space is maximised its centripetal force by the vessel’s gravity.
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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