The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers

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Craftsmanship

Freemen and Liverymen of the Company create stunning prizewinning pieces of embroidery, jewellery and silversmithing

Neckpiece by Liveryman Bradley Humphreys ‘Aphrodite’s Riviere'
Sabina Lima’s ‘Ablaze’ Photo: Jutta Klee

The GSWD have had a long connection with the Royal School of Needlework which is housed at Hampton Court Palace where the GSWD sponsor two students and a teacher. This year our embroiderers have been at the forefront of creating the Coronation robes and the Anointing Screen.

The annual Hand & Lock Prize for Embroidery was established in 2000 to promote the fine art of embroidery. It is now a global competition with entries from over 40 different countries. Providing aspiring embroidery students and designers an opportunity to showcase their talents and gain vital exposure and experience.

The GSWD sponsor a prize for the best use of Metal Thread Embroidery. The 2022 GSWD prize was awarded to Sabina de Oliveira Lima for her creation ‘Ablaze’

The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council  is a non profit making organisation founded over one hundred years ago in 1908. Today, the Council continues its work from its original remit: to encourage, stimulate and promote the pursuit of excellence in craftsmanship and design amongst all those in the United Kingdom who work within silversmithing, goldsmithing, jewellery and the allied crafts. Since 2012 the GSWD have sponsored awards in Wire Innovation and the Master presents the prizes at a glittering ceremony at Goldsmiths’ Hall in the spring.
The 2023 the GCDC Wire Innovation prize was awarded to Andrew Lamb for his ‘Vortex’ necklace.

Andrew Lamb’s Vortex necklace Photo: Richard Valencia, courtesy GCDC

We have collaborated with the Computer Science department at Cambridge University and give an annual award for Excellence and Achievement in Computing Hardware which is presented to the winner at our end of year Banquet. The Trophy (left) was made by Liveryman Nan Nan Liu and features a large microchip. photo credit: Yeshen Venema. The winner also receives a certificate, with a finely embroidered gold and silver border stitched by Freeman Laura Baverstock.
All our prizewinners are invited to become Freemen of the GSWD and participate in various formal and informal social events that are organised throughout the year.