Publications for Sale

To purchase, please contact the Library by telephone on 020 7606 7010 or use the contact form below. All cheques should be made payable to The Goldsmiths' Company.

The Early History of the Goldsmiths' Company 1327-1509, with The Book of Ordinances 1478-83

By T F Reddaway | London, Edward Arnold, 1975. 408p., 17 plates | £20

This very readable account by Reddaway, former Professor of London history, examines the growth of one of the Great Livery Companies from its early beginnings within the context of the development of London in the later medieval period. The author’s judicious choice of material recorded in the Company’s Minute Books brings to life the personalities and lives of these London citizens who laid the foundations for the present Company.

 

Unravelling the mystery: the story of the Goldsmiths' Company in the 20th century

By Peter Jenkins | London, The Goldsmiths' Company and Third Millennium Publishing, 2000, 2 volumes in a slip case | £45

Peter Jenkins, the former Clerk, tells the story of one of the Great Livery companies of the City of London in the twentieth century. The author has been able to consult all the minutes, briefing papers and files of the Goldsmiths' Company. He has brought together the strands of operations as diverse as theAssay Office, the Company’s charities, its Hall and its support for its trade of goldsmithing and silversmithing, particularly the encouragement of better design and craftsmanship. The result is a critical review of the merit and success of the Company’s activities. 

 

Catalogue of Corporation Plate of England and Wales

By J F Hayward | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1952. 2 vols. Vol. 1 (text) 62p.; Vol 2 (illus.) 48p., 52 illus., pb | £8

249 exhibits, including plate, insignia of office, swords of state and maces, ranging from the sixteenth century to the present day are described in detail.

 

The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths as Patrons of their Craft 1919-1953

By George R Hughes | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1965. 142p., 67 illus., pb | £10

This personal review of the former Clerk’s years at the Hall gives a fascinating insight into the Company’s endeavours to promote the craft in the inter-war years. The latter half of the volume contains a catalogue of the plate purchased by the Company in that period and includes interesting biographical detail of the prominent designers of the day, such as Gleadowe, Murphy and Stabler.

 

Leslie Durbin: Fifty years of silversmithing

London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1982. 40p., 38 illus., 2 line drawings, pb | £10

A retrospective exhibition of the work of one of England’s leading designers in silver, illustrating his many public and private commissions.

 

Recent acquisitions by the Goldsmiths’ Company 1975-1985

By R Ransome Wallis | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1985. 23p., 33 illus (8 col.) pb  | £10

A catalogue of some of the new and exciting additions made to the Goldsmiths’ Company’s collection over the last 10 years, all of which were exhibited in Goldsmiths’ Hall. 

 

The Jewellery of Rene Lalique

By Vivienne Becker | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1987. 192p., 249 illus. (141 col.), pb | £20

This profusely illustrated catalogue of the marvellous exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall, curated by the Art Nouveau expert, Vivienne Becker, shows many of the famous jewels on which Rene Lalique’s reputation rests. His use of non-precious materials marks him as a jeweller of genius, ahead of his time and his ability to encapsulate emotions, thoughts, concepts, poetry and narrative in his jewellery is recognised in the continued appeal of his work to collectors and the public.

 

Paul de Lamerie - The work of England’s Master Silversmith 1688 -1751

By S M Hare | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1990. 181p., 189 illus. (103 col.), pb | £20

This catalogue of the first major exhibition of this extraordinary 18th century silversmith is marked by its attention to the patrons of Paul de Lamerie and the context of his work. Essays by Susan Hare, Michael Snodin and Dr Helen Clifford draw out the details of his life, the sources of inspiration for his designs and the period and trade in which he lived and thrived. Exhibits from private and public collections in this country and abroad present an unrivalled collection of the best works of England’s premier silversmith. 

 

Treasures from the Pforzheim Collection

London, Goldsmiths' Company, 1993. 72p., 57 plates | £10

With a foreword by Fritz Falk, Curator of the Jewellery Museum, Pforzheim and a catalogue detailing the 260 exhibits on loan including the famous Greek arm bracelet of the 3rd century BC, the fabulous "Octopus and Butterfly" brooch by Wilhelm Lucas von Cranach and many other pieces from BC to the present day.

 

Contemporary Silver Tableware

London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 1996. 30p., illus (colour) | £10

Catalogue of an exhibition of 26 silversmiths including brief biographies and photographs of their work.

 

Celebration in Gold & Silver

London, Goldsmiths' Company, 2002, 80p., illus., pb | £10

This catalogue of the exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall, provides a retrospective of both public and private commissions executed by British jewellers and silversmiths during the first 50 years of the reign of Her Majesty The Queen. It illustrates through a range of traditional and innovative objects the changes in design and the developments of new techniques.

 

Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London

By Susan M Hare | Peterborough, priv. print by Hudson Heritage for the Goldsmiths’ Company, 2012, 47p., illus (colour) | £6

This revised edition, in full colour, traces the history of the site in Foster Lane from the 14th century to the present day with details of the three Halls including the present one.

 

Creation: An Insight into the Mind of the Modern Silversmith

London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2004, 64pp, over 90 colour illus | £10

Catalogue (and DVD) for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 27 May-10 July, 2004. The exhibition showcased 13 silversmiths, who had been filmed discussing their particular creative process as they developed pieces in their workshops. These films were shown alongside their work. The catalogue features profiles and personal statements of the silversmiths with illustrations of some of the exhibits. The accompanying DVD was a collaboration between the silversmiths and the film students of Ravensbourne College which resulted in 13 strikingly different and fascinating stories, giving the viewer a rare opportunity to see the creative process and personality behind the exhibits.

 

Treasures of the English Church: A Thousand Years of Sacred Gold and Silver

London, The Goldsmiths' Company with Paul Holberton Publishing, 2008, 144pp., 170 illus | £20

Edited by Timothy Schroder, this publication accompanied the very successful exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall in the summer of 2008. With contributions from authoritative writers such as Timothy Kent, Philippa Glanville, William Jacob, James Lomax, Tessa Murdoch and Eric Turner, this publication is essential reading for those interested in the history of English church plate.

 

Treasures of Today: Silver from Goldsmiths' Hall, London 1980-2008

London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2008, 112pp., over 136 colour illus | £10

Compiled by the Goldsmiths' Company's curator, Rosemary Ransome Wallis, this illustrated catalogue was published to accompany a successful touring exhibition showing some of the Company's most recent silver acquisitions. The catalogue introduces the public to the signature styles of over 50 artists working today, and illustrates the diversity of contemporary silversmithing.

 

Creation II: An Insight into the Mind of the Modern Artist-Jeweller

London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2009, 34pp., 28 colour illus | £10

Catalogue (and DVD) for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 29 May-11 July 2009. This exhibition focused on the creative talents of an elite group of 12 distinguished artist- jewellers, individually chosen by the curator, Mary La Trobe-Bateman. The DVD which accompanies the catalogue features short films of ten of the exhibiting jewellers made by students from Goldsmiths' College (London), the International Film School (University of Wales) and Edinburgh College of Art.

 

The Goldsmiths’ Review 2018/2019

London, The Goldsmiths’ Company, 2019 | £6 (UK), £10 (rest of world)

The new edition of The Goldsmiths’ Review will be published in Summer 2019. It will include an overview of the Company's activities over the past year as well as articles touching on the contemporary jewellery and silver trade.
Purchase previous copies here

Purchase a copy here.

 

Mindful of Silver

London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2011, 28pp., 37 colour illus | £10

Catalogue for the summer exhibition held at Goldsmiths' Hall, 27 May – 16 July 2011, curated by Julie Chamberlain. This exhibition explored the creative process by which silversmiths develop ideas into objects. The catalogue reveals the journey behind 12 vessels by leading contemporary British silversmiths - Vladimir Böhm, David Clarke, Rebecca de Quin, Sarah Denny, Alistair McCallum, Grant McCaig, Hector Miller, Peter Musson, Theresa Nguyen, Michael Rowe, Toby Russell and Lucian Taylor.

 

Growing Talent.  Jewellers and silversmiths nurtured by the Goldsmiths' Company 2000-12

London, The Goldsmiths' Company, 2013, 180pp., illus |  £10

This exhibition catalogue celebrates the work of young jewellers and silversmiths over the last decade who have benefitted from the bursary scheme, which supports new exhibitors at Goldsmiths' Fair.  Their inspirations, influences and thoughts on the Fair are recorded alongside images of their work.  Curated by Mary La Trobe-Bateman, this publication contains the future stars of the jewellery and silver world.

 

Silver and Tea, a perfect blend

London, The Goldsmiths’ Company, 1998, 62pp, colour illus. | £10

Catalogue for an exhibition of contemporary silver for tea held at Goldsmiths’ Hall from 28 May to 3 July 1998. The catalogue includes a brief history of tea, and silver tea-wares, followed by entries for the work of 65 makers shown in the exhibition. Each entry consists of a colour image, a description of the object (or group of objects) and a brief biography of the maker.

Louis Osman

London, The Goldsmiths’ Company, 1971, 24pp., 5 colour illus., 11 black and white | £10

Catalogue for the Louis Osman gold exhibition held at Goldsmiths’ Hall from 16 February – 11 March, 1971.  The exhibition contained new works in gold from 1970-71 and retrospective works from the period 1957-1970, including the crown worn by the Prince of Wales for his investiture at Caernarvon Castle in 1969, and the Gold Moon designed by Osman with Simon Horn to commemorate man’s first landing on the moon.

 

Gerald Benney, Goldsmith: the story of fifty years at the bench 

By Graham Hughes | Alfriston, Starcity, 1998, 224pp | £20

Graham Hughes, late Art Director of the Goldsmiths’ Company and a personal friend of Gerald Benney, explores the life and career of this outstanding goldsmith.  This beautifully illustrated book includes chapters on Benney’s training and personal development, private and public patrons, his work as a painter, and the influence of the Goldsmiths’ Company on his career.

 

Gold: Power and Allure

ed. by Dr Helen Clifford | London, Goldsmiths’ Company, 2012.  168p., 127 illus., in slip cover | £20

Published to accompany the exhibition of the same name at Goldsmiths’ Hall from 1 June – 28 July 2012, this book covers the story of gold from the ancient world to the present day.  Eleven chapters, by leading experts in their fields, explore aspects of the metal, including its technical properties; geology; mining; the history of its hallmarking; its use on the dining table; in the rituals of life; coinage and commerce; and the ways in which gold is utilised today by leading silversmiths and contemporary artists. 

 

Terms

25% discount to booksellers (discount negotiable for bulk purchases); 10% discount for personal collection from the Hall; Items marked * are not available at reduced price.