Goldsmiths’ Hall in London offers a captivating insight into five decades of jewellery creations made in tandem by the De Vroomen husband-and-wife team.
Monday - Wednesday, 10am - 4pm
Celebrating five decades of artistic collaboration between husband-and-wife team Leo and Ginnie de Vroomen, The Goldmiths’ Company presents over 100 jewels, sketches and paintings in the exhibition De Vroomen: Harmony in Colour and Form.
Dutch goldsmith Leo and British jewellery designer and artist Ginnie embarked upon their artistic odyssey in the early 1970s and developed a signature style unlike anything seen before, marked by flowing lines and voluptuous forms resulting from the sculptural repoussé work celebrating the warmth and malleability of gold.
Unlike traditional jewellers, Leo is enamoured by all gemstones and dispenses with the traditional hierarchies of precious and semi-precious, favouring unusual stones with interesting inclusions, colour and character. Enamel is another De Vroomen trademark and the couple were at the forefront of its revival in fine jewellery. As he attests: “I am passionate about our jewellery. To create something innovative, dynamic and beautiful without compromise is always challenging, but the real satisfaction comes from seeing it worn by the right woman with confidence and pleasure.”
Leo, a world-renowned goldsmith from the Netherlands, moved to London in 1965 to lecture at the Central School of Art and Design, where he met his wife Ginnie. He is acclaimed for his skilful interpretation of the repoussé technique and an adventurous approach to enamelling resulting in sculptural, glamorous jewellery. Ginnie studied jewellery design at the Central School of Art and Design (now Central Saint Martins), where she met her tutor and future husband Leo. In addition to teaching art metalwork and designing jewellery, Ginnie’s paintings are now in private collections in Europe and the USA.
The Goldsmiths’ Company is a hallowed British institution devoted to supporting activities related to precious metals and jewellery crafts through training, education and promotion. Responsible since 1300 for testing the quality of gold and silver, it also funds apprenticeships for would-be jewellers and silversmiths and is home to the largest collection of silver in the UK, dating from the 14th century to the present day.
ADMISSION: Free
