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The discovery and subsequent fascination for precious metals and their fabrication, for personal adornment, status symbol, and for practical use dates from as early as 4600BC in Mesopotamia, and the surrounding lands of South West Asia. Through evidence from archaeological discoveries at Ur and other sites in Egypt, it is clear that all the principle methods of smelting, refining, forming, assembly and decorative techniques were evolved and still form the basis of precious metal working today.
As civilisations developed and society became more complex, so the status, role and importance of the artist craftsman in metal evolved to establish him in a position of prominence. Many fine pieces of work exist from the earliest of times, mostly in museum collections throughout the world, which are studied and admired by countless millions of people. |
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Sadly for posterity the identity and any knowledge of the creator, or indeed in most cases, his customer are virtually unknown. Only the spirit and dedication of the silversmith survives, acknowleged through the quality of his concept and excellence of his skills in the age in which he worked. Our ability to relate the creator to surviving examples across the passage of time, depends entirely upon literary records and marks, names and devices, on pieces that might be linked. Only the very briefest of records exist from early civilisations that give any insight into the possible identity and standing of the maker and even then only as the outcome of lengthy detective work and many assumptions.
During the middle ages in Europe conscious attempts began to legislate and control fraud, using a marking system (hallmarking) following assay of wares for sale. As with most legislation, conscious attempts were made to defraud which resulted in further legislation to extend methods of identification. Fortunately for us any control system requires records and from this we begin to be able to specifically identify individuals and their work.
Years ago I made a couple of actual-size replica Faberge-style eggs for private customers, and when the organisers of Miniature asked me to create something for their 50th anniversary I decided to make my own first miniature Faberge-style egg in gold. All Faberge eggs contain a 'secret', and I came up with the idea of a dormouse coveting a diamond.
During the middle ages in Europe conscious attempts began to legislate and control fraud, using a marking system (hallmarking) following assay of wares for sale. As with most legislation, conscious attempts were made to defraud which resulted in further legislation to extend methods of identification. Fortunately for us any control system requires records and from this we begin to be able to specifically identify individuals and their work.
Years ago I made a couple of actual-size replica Faberge-style eggs for private customers, and when the organisers of Miniature asked me to create something for their 50th anniversary I decided to make my own first miniature Faberge-style egg in gold. All Faberge eggs contain a 'secret', and I came up with the idea of a dormouse coveting a diamond.
