Exhibitions & Loans

Exhibitions

Made for the Table, touring exhibition

Made for the Table celebrated the skill, design and exquisite craftmanship in contemporary British silver, and displayed the work alongside different media - ceramic, furniture, glass and textiles - in a modern table setting. The display showed how everyday objects such as a salt or bread basket, can be transformed into a piece of sculpture; something which is intended to be used as well as admired on the table. 

The exhibition was adapted for a series of venues: the Harley Gallery in Nottinghamshire; the Ruthin Craft Centre in North Wales; the Holburne Museum in Bath; and the first Goldsmiths' Company exhibition at Goldsmiths' Centre in London. Its final stop was Osterley Park in Middlesex, where it was shown as part of a longstanding partnership with the National Trust, intended to bring public attention to their own silver collection. 

The Silversmiths Art, National Museum of Scotland

The Silversmith's Art, hosted by the National Museum of Scotland 18 Sep 2015 - 4 Jan 2016, celebrated the exceptional artistry and skill that make Britain a world leader in modern silver. The exhibition featured over 150 masterpieces, made by 66 acclaimed silversmiths, commissioned for the Goldsmiths' Company's collection, between 2000 and 2015. The the exhibition welcomed 28,000 visitors.

Studio Silver Today, with the National Trust

A series of five annual exhibitions between 2010 and 2014 at National Trust properties housing major collections of antique silver, the exhibitions included silversmiths demonstrating their skills as artists-in-residence.

The five silversmiths involved in Studio Silver Today - Shannon O’Neill at Dunham Massey, Theresa Nguyen at Kedleston, Miriam Hanid at Ickworth, Rauni Higson at Erddig and Angela Cork at Belton House  - were unique ambassadors of their innovative craft, and each raised the visitor numbers to the respective properties. In total, 500,000 visitors saw these exhibitions: a new audience for contemporary silver.

Treasures of the 20th Century, Goldsmiths' Hall 

To mark the millennium, the Goldsmiths’ Company held a major exhibition of its modern collections of silver, jewellery and art medals at Goldsmiths’ Hall, Treasures of the 20th Century. Following the immediate success of this, in 2002 the Company was invited to exhibit the exhibition’s silver at the prestigious Danish museum, Koldinghus. Innovation and Design at the Koldinghus exemplified the number and variety of silversmiths practising in the United Kingdom and won international acclaim.

Loans

The Company has a constant cycle of both long term loans and loans to specific exhibitions from its Collection. For example, during the last year, the Company has loaned to the following institutions:

• The British Museum, London
• San Francisco Museum, San Francisco International Airport, A Sterling Silver Renaissance: British Silver Design 1957 to 2018
• Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft, East Sussex, Women’s Work 
• Tate Britain, London, The Bauhaus & Britain

Loan requests must be made formally in writing to the Curator, listing the objects and outlining the exhibition content, prior to permission being given by the Wardens of the Company and must be in agreement with the conditions set down by the Company, with a full Facilities Report and insurance documentation.

For further information, please contact the Collections Assistant.