Birmingham is famous for jewellery and metal working, in the 1700s and 1800s my family had brass founding premises throughout Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter making metal buttons. In the heart of the Jewellery Quarter is Birmingham School of Jewellery. This month there is plenty of making to see there, and far more exciting than brass buttons.
Meanings and Messages. Kristy Lewis, Self-Love Brooch - Carnelian, silver and steel
First - visit the Meanings and Messages exhibition at the Vittoria Street Gallery. The touring exhibition shows brooches by members of the ACJ (Association for Contemporary Jewellery), the exhibition focuses on the brooch as they form the ideal jewellery archetype for conveying meanings and messages. Brooches can be subversive and are often used by people in the public eye, by political figures or sovereignty to convey important messages. These messages may be hidden, subtle or occasionally more of an overt protest!
But you don’t have to travel to Birmingham to see the exhibition as it comes to Cirencester in the spring (4th April – 18th June 2023).
Then switch on for BBC’s All That Glitters filmed at The Birmingham School of Jewellery. The second series of the bake-off style jewellery competition starts on the 25th August on BBC2. Each week the eight makers will have their skills and creativity challenged. "From spinner rings to mismatched earrings, engagement rings to hairpins, each episode of All That Glitters sees the jewellers face two real-world challenges: The Bestseller, where they are tasked to design the latest must-have piece that everyone will want, and The Bespoke, where they create a one-off piece for some very special clients from all walks of life." - BBC. Judging the jewellers' work are two of the biggest names in the business, Shaun Leane and Dinny Hall, and it’s up to them who will be named jeweller of the week and who will be heading home.
Again, you don’t need to head to Birmingham – episodes will be available on BBC IPlayer.
And of course, if the glitter of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter just doesn’t grab you, but jewellery making does that’s fine. We have some great ways to get your sparkle-on here in Cirencester. Our Beginners’ Silver Jewellery (5-week course) runs throughout November, and our autumn workshop programme is filled with silversmithing, enamelling and jewellery making with found objects or pearls and stones.
Make Your Own Silver Pendant - Charlotte Duckworth
(Sat 3rd Sep, 10am - 4pm, £90)
Setting Found Objects - Hayley Kruger
(Thurs 29th Sep, 10am - 4pm, £90)
Make Your Own Necklace - Stina Richardson
(Sat 1st Oct, 10am - 1pm, £55)
Roman Inspired Torque Bangle - Hayley Kruger
(Sat 8th Oct, 10am - 4pm, £90)
Kiln Fired Enamelling Weekend - Katie Sanderson
(Saturday 22nd October - Sunday 23rd October, 10am - 3pm)
Kiln Fired Enamelling - Katie Sanderson
(Fri 25th Nov, 10am - 3pm)