Yorkshire Artspace's Silver Fellows Visit Sheffield Assay Office

Yorkshire Artspace's, Silver Space provides a settled base for a select number of talented and ambitious silversmiths. Silver Space is the northern hub for contemporary silversmithing where knowledge and skills are valued and where silversmiths can forge the networks they need to thrive. 

The Fellowship offers time, space, support and a reduction in financial pressure, enabling Fellows to build a body of work and focus on their business. Silver Fellows have their own bench in Silver Space at Yorkshire Artspace and receive free registration and hallmarking with us here at Sheffield Assay Office. In January, we were delighted to welcome Programme Manager Rachael Dodd, Morvarid, Rachel and Isabella on a behind the scenes tour of our state-of-the-art premises.

Here at Sheffield Assay Office, we have an ongoing commitment to support designer makers, silversmiths and jewellers in the City of Sheffield and are delighted to be working closely with Yorkshire Artspace, Silver Space. Curator and Librarian Emma Paragreen said ‘It’s great to see Morvarid and Isabella going from strength to strength and Rachel who joined in November 2025, is settling into the Silver Space environment. 

Assay Master Ashley Carson commented ‘I’m excited about the ongoing collaboration and support of the Silver Fellows and Silver Space. I’m delighted that the sponsorship from Sheffield Assay Office supports the mentoring aspect of programme, the studio is so well equipped and an ideal place for these talented individuals to flourish’ I wish them every success’.

As Rachael Dodd, Programme Manager Silver Space says: ‘Our enduring partnership with Sheffield Assay Office has been central to the evolution of Silver Space, and their generous support, including free hallmarking, has been invaluable to the Silver Fellows.’

Silver Fellow Rachel Ruiyi Wang said following her visit to Sheffield Assay Office ‘It was a precious opportunity to have a guided tour of SAO. The well-organised silverware collection, dated from the 1770s, made me aware of the importance of the hallmarking system beyond materiality. Many thanks again to the Sheffield Assay Office for their support of the YAS Silver Fellowship’. 

To find out more about their work visit Morvarid Alavifard and Rachel Ruiyi Wang, Isabella Anne Kelley | Silver

Silver Space → Yorkshire Artspace

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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