Goldsmiths’ Hall in London is hosting the first-ever solo exhibition of sculptural jewellery by Charlotte De Syllas.
10am-4pm (27 April - 15 July, by appointment only; 18-22 July, no appointment necessary)
Admission: Free
As much a sculptor as she is a jeweller, Charlotte De Syllas works with a precious palette of carved gemstones ranging from jade, opals and lapis lazuli, to aquamarines and tourmalines.
This spring, the Goldsmiths’ Company will present the first major solo exhibition of her work, featuring 73 unique jewellery pieces spanning a period of more than 50 years, from the 1960s to the present day. The sculpted designs feature birds with their wings spread in mid-flight, as well as flowers, serene-looking human faces, and imaginative sea creatures.
The daughter of an architect father and an interior designer mother, Charlotte grew up in St Julians in Kent amidst a socially advanced community of architects, academics, poets and painters. While she dabbled in dance, miming and fine art, it was a visit to an exhibition by Georges Braque in Paris that sparked her interest in jewellery design. After completing her training with renowned jeweller Gerda Flockinger at Hornsey College of Art, Charlotte set up her own business working mainly on private commissions. Today, her work is exhibited as part of the public collections at the V&A, the Crafts Council in London, and the Swiss National Museum in Zurich.
Charlotte’s relationship with the Goldsmiths’ Company started in the 1960s when it bought some of her student work and continued with major commissions in 2000 and 2014. In 2007, she also became a Liveryman of the Goldsmith’s Company.
Not to be missed
Bobby’s Ring, in yellow gold with a face carved out of grey chalcedony, was Charlotte’s first major commission and is accompanied by a gold leafed box that folds out to reveal the ring.
