Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2023 – Winners Honoured at Goldsmiths’ Hall In London

08 Mar 2023

Picture: Deborah Beck (centre), winner of the NAJ/BATF Award, alongside Joanna Hardy, and NAJ Chair, Heather Callaway

The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and 38 Gold Awards were presented at the 2023 Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards.

Held at the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Hall in London on Monday 6th March 2023, this important annual awards ceremony was opened by the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s chair, Anne-Marie Reeves, and hosted by Council Trustees Judith Lockwood and Maeve Gillies who, together announced this year’s award winners. The event welcomed more than 300 guests, including representatives from world-renowned jewellery houses, notable sponsors, industry associations, leading designers and the UK media. The Awards presentation was live-streamed, which doubled the immediate audience.

In her opening remarks, Anne-Marie Reeves said,

“Congratulations to all the winners and especially those who were honoured with special awards. This is a real accolade… to be cherished as a sign of excellence within your craft. To all entrants, we say a huge thank you for your brilliant, thoughtful and skilful contributions to this year’s competition. We encourage you to keep entering, developing yourselves, and promoting skills, talent, and a bright future for our industry.

“The Awards would not be possible without the generous and unwavering support of our Patrons and Sponsors — notably our Founding Patron, the Goldsmiths’ Company and Principal Patron, Cartier. Our thanks also go to our wonderful judges. Without them, this competition would not have the creditability and integrity that it’s known for.”

The Craftsmanship and Design Awards are unique to the British jewellery industry and allied trades in rewarding excellence in technical skills and creative design in precious metals and related materials. The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC), which operates the competition, actively encourages all craftspersons and designers in the industry, as well as apprentices and students, to enter their work.

Picture: Karen Wallace (centre), winner of the Cartier Award with Joanna Hardy and Laurent Feniou

2023 Awards Highlights

• The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship. It is only awarded when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves a justifiable standard. This year it was awarded to Karen Wallace for her Carved Steel Scroll Rifle Cover. Laurent Feniou, MD UK for Cartier, presented the award.
• The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Pope and Oliver Makower for their outstanding contribution and lifelong commitment to the jewellery profession as founders of the Bishopsland Educational Trust. Set up over 30 years ago, it supports, nurtures and develops the next generation of silversmiths. Pope Makower was presented with the Award medal by The Trade Warden, Joanna Hardy and Tim Fattorini of Thomas Fattorini Ltd, sponsor of this award.
• The College Trophy, sponsored by Betts Metals, was presented to the Glasgow School of Art. This trophy is awarded to the College or University that has achieved the highest total points accumulated from any Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards given in the competition.
• The Senior Award went to Martin Keane for the Gin No Nagare (Flowing Silver) Carafe, No3.
• The Junior Award went to Daniel Munn for his silver enamelled Venetian mask.
• The Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award was given to Alysha Strong (Apprentice) and Michael Summers (Master) for her Circle of Life Pendant.
• Janet Weller and Andrew Lamb were multi-award winners scooping, with Janet taking four golds in the 2D section and Andrew receiving four golds in the 3D sections.
• NAJ Chair Heather Callaway presented the NAJ/BATF Ready-To-Wear Award to winner Deborah Beck. With an ‘upcycle, recycle, reduce’ brief, Deborah’s beautiful Legacy Brooch exemplified the design merit, commercial and wearability criteria.

Belinda Morris will interview Deborah Beck in the upcoming summer issue of The Jeweller magazine.

Picture: Lifetime Achievement Award, Penelope Pope with Laurent Feniou and Joanna Hardy

Visit The Goldsmiths Craft and Design Council

Source: National Association of Jewellers