A taste of Jewellery and Silversmithing history

This week in the Benchpeg Newsletter, the Goldsmiths’ Company have announced that they will be displaying a beautiful 2000 year old silver bowl called the Corieltavi Silver Bowl during British Silver Week which is running at Goldsmiths’ Hall from tomorrow.



Corieltavi Silver Bowl

 

Opulent Ethics were so taken with the idea that this simple, beautiful bowl was made during the Iron Age and yet, could match some of today’s silver-smithing masters. It got us thinking about what else has stood the test of time.

The Corieltavi Silver Bowl is made from over 84% silver which has been alloyed with copper, a process still undertaken with modern day silver. The bowl is the earliest example ever found in the UK of Iron Age silversmithing techniques. It was found in what is thought to be a Druid site used for ritualistic offerings to the Gods. Other pieces found included ingots, coins, wooden carved statues and pieces of jewellery.

Further investigation revealed that techniques still used by today’s silversmiths were used by the silversmith who made the Corieltavi Silver Bowl. Evidence of planishing (smoothing the surface of the material), caulking (thickening of the edge of the metal by hammering the edge rather than the top of the material) and peening (hammering a thick piece of metal to form the centre whilst the edges remain at the initial thickness) was found.

This made Opulent Ethics think back to when we visited the Staffordshire Hoard which went on show at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery after the Hoard was first discovered in Staffordshire in 2009.



Piece of the Staffordshire Hoard



Over 1500 pieces were found in the Hoard including what are believed to be the decorative patterning taken from the hilts of swords, a helmet and numerous religious artefacts. The Hoard contains over 5kg of gold but also some silver and copper alloyed metals.

Opulent Ethics were most taken by those pieces which contained patterning, especially filigree, and stone set sections. The main stone used was Garnet. It is believed that the pieces found in the Hoard were used by Royalty and elite due to the amount of craftsmanship used as well as the, now almost priceless, materials.

Garnet and Gold decorative element of the Staffordshire Hoard

Opulent Ethics really hope that the jewellery we make can stand up to the test of time like these amazing artefacts!

That’s all for now….