LONDON, (PNA/Xinhua) — The Goldsmiths’ Fair 2013, the largest jewelry exhibition in Europe, was open in London on Monday, showcasing the creativeness and exquisite craftsmanship of contemporary designers and makers from various parts of the world.
The two-week event, the 31st of the kind, attracted 180 jewelry and silver designers and makers.
One of the many joys of visiting the fair is to see many works with the subjects of commissioning, a collaboration between artist and patron, relating with birthday, wedding anniversary and other personnel important events.
Victoria Walker, a new exhibitor to the fair, demonstrated her unique designing of a locket featured with miniature articulated flowers that emerge and unfold from within. Her jewelry has attracted many visitors on the first day of the fair, especially young women.
Victoria Walker told a story of a Scottish couple who wanted to make a pendant to celebrate the birth of their daughter. She said the couple wanted something their daughter Oliver could treasure all her life.
“They had seen and liked one of my floral kinetic designs and, given their strong Scottish connection, requested a thistle locket, ” which is featured with the national flower of Scotland and a symbol of bravery, courage and protection, she said.
Vicki Ambery-Smith, who has attended the fair for the ninth time, continually delighted and entertained visitors with her architectural designs, featuring various well-known landmarks or buildings with which the wearer has a personnel connections, such as wedding place, university studies, and birth places.
She presents her works with her varied interpretations of the buildings and landmarks, s architectural designs
“Each of my works has a beautiful story,” she told Xinhua.
The fair also attracted some Chinese jewelers and silversmiths including silversmith Nan Nan Liu and jeweller Fei Liu.
Nan Nan Liu said her works are made with many Chinese elements such as lotus flowers, water wave and fish.
“Chinese culture is deep-rooted in my mind, sometimes you cannot stop it when you are doing the designing and creating”, she told Xinhua.
Her work started by experimenting the balance between nature and ornamentation. She created a beautiful collection of layered silver jewelry by looking at the rings of trees indicating age.
Nan Nan Liu, who studied accountancy in China, has established her workshop in 2010. She said that she is now really enjoying a creative life after studying jewelry design and silversmithing in the Birmingham university.
Liu also expressed her hope that her works would be sold well through the fair.
The annual event is scheduled to be held between Sept. 23-29, and Oct. 1-6, respectively.