The manufacture of vessels and other ceremonial artefacts in precious metals can be traced back to the Bronze Age here in the UK. Grave goods and archaeological finds of fine metalwork can be seen in collections across the UK. The church and ecclesiastical silver played a significant part in the development of mediaeval silversmithing techniques and a guild of Goldsmiths’ (workers in precious metals) responsible for the Assay of Plate and overseeing their craft was established in London in 1327. This is the origin of the Hallmarking process and while today there are four Assay Offices (London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Sheffield) in the UK today. In previous centuries guild-based Assay Offices also existed where there were significant concentrations of silversmiths and goldsmiths including places like Chester and Yarmouth.
Until the Industrial Revolution silversmithing was predominately a low volume activity with much of the work hand fabricated. The Industrial revolution saw the introduction of mass production in places such as Birmingham (Matthew Boulton’s) famous Soho Manufactory and in Sheffield where flatware and cutlery were important products. Indeed, the Birmingham and Sheffield Assay Offices were created by Act of Parliament rather than Charter to meet the needs of local manufacturers. Use of domestic silver peaked in the 19th Century when domestic staff were viable options for the middle and upper class households. The maintenance of domestic plate being a time-consuming and repetitive process which became less popular after the decline in domestic staff after the First World War.
For much of the 20th Century silver in its many forms became the province of the Church, Ceremonial Plate and Commissions with a gradual decline in wider domestic use. The 1950/60s saw a renewed interest in design and a new generation of designer and makers came to the fore that developed successful businesses that targeted wealthier and discerning clients both in the UK and overseas.
There remain a number of highly successful commercial workshops and retailers and a new generation of small independent designer maker businesses who are creating viable and sustainable businesses, many of whom are represented by Contemporary British Silversmiths and incubated through initiatives such as Bishopsland Educational Trust, Yorkshire Artspace, South House Workshop Trust, Marchmont silversmithing workshops and the Goldsmiths’ Centre.
However, they remain in part dependent upon the specialist craftspeople that have specialist skills in the allied trades and make up the supply chain for the sector, and therefore there will always be a risk for their long term sustainability if these supply chains breakdown.
The allied trades involve various specialist techniques that support the manufacture of objects in silver as well as providing finishing and decorative functions.
The allied trades in silversmithing were traditionally often carried out by a team of skilled specialists. For example, there were traditionally buffers, polishers, spinners, wire drawers etc. who would specialise in that specific skill. Today, many of these areas of skill are decreasing and so many independent craftspeople and companies have to become skilled in more than one area and/or bring the skills in-house.
These include:
Training and recruitment issues
Availability of tools
Skills issues
Market issues
Supply chain issues
Business issues
There are no organisations that solely support the allied trades, but there are a number that support the wider silversmithing and jewellery trade.
There are various routes into silversmithing from which trainees can then specialise in various allied trades. Many of these will be learned on-the-job with a company or business that specialises in one or many allied trades.
Traditionally many of these trainees will have come through the apprenticeship route but now it is likely that many will be coming from university courses or other routes.
Apprenticeships
Undergraduate & Postgraduate Silversmithing Courses in the UK
Specialist and Short Courses
Silversmithing training initiatives
Goldsmiths’ Centre – Located in London’s Hatton Garden, the Goldsmiths’ Centre is a charity promoting professional training in jewellery, silversmithing, and the allied trades. It offers a range of programmes, including apprenticeships, short courses, and business development initiatives.
Bishopsland Educational Trust – Bishopsland is a charity dedicated to the training and education of emerging silversmiths and jewellers in the UK. Over the past 30 years, it has nurtured the careers of over 200 artisans through its intensive one-year residential program, which combines hands-on silversmithing techniques with business skills development.
South House Silver Workshop Trust – The Silver South House Trust is a registered charity that aims to train young silversmiths.
Contemporary British Silversmiths – Skills Training Programme
Incubator spaces for silversmiths
Yorkshire Artspace – Silver Space – Located in Sheffield, Yorkshire Artspace’s Silver Space is a dedicated hub for contemporary silversmithing. It offers fully equipped workspaces, including individual benches, a range of silversmithing tools, and access to specialized equipment like a fly press and metalwork lathe.
Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop – Situated on the Marchmont Estate in Duns, Scotland, this state-of-the-art workshop supports early-career silversmiths by providing a two-year tenancy with access to fully equipped facilities and mentorship from experienced professionals.
The figures below are estimates based on initial consultation with the sector. The UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts Industry (UKJSAC) roundtable – a cross-industry group convened by the NAJ in 2023 – has identified lack of data as a key challenge facing the wider sector. In addition, the roundtable has highlighted the limited visibility and support around entry points and career opportunities within the sector as well as key skills gaps. UKJSAC is actively working with the UK government to address these issues, alongside other concerns such as the closure of further and higher education courses and the broader erosion of creative education.
Polishing – Estimated 6-10
Buffing/Sanding – Estimated 6-10
Hand chasing & repousse specialists – Estimated 4-8
Plating – Often congruent with polishing and buffing
Wire Drawing – Estimated 1-5 (1 at British Silverware, 1 at Toye, Kenning & Spencer)
Engine turned engraving – 6-10 full time professional makers (see separate listing https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/engine-turned-engraving/ )
Silver spinning – 8 full time professionals, 6 part time professionals (see separate listing https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/silver-spinning/ ) Dave Alison has retired. Christopher Perry is establishing a much bigger Spinning operation in his firm CK Crafthouse in Sheffield and took on Dave Alison’s lathe.
Hand engraving – 21-50 full time professionals, 11-20 part time professionals (see separate listing https://www.heritagecrafts.org.uk/craft/hand-engraving/ )
For all other allied trades we don’t have sufficient data at present. Heritage Crafts will be continuing to work with the UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts Industry (UKJSAC) roundtable and other partners to address this.
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