The National Association of Jewellers
The National Association of Jewellers
11/21/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/21/2024 02:59
Bradley’s Jewellers Presents British-Made Arts & Crafts Collection at York Art Gallery Event
Bradley's Jewellers Presents British-Made Arts & Crafts Collection at York Art Gallery Event
21 Nov 2024
Independent and multi-award-winning jewellery business Bradley's Jewellers York has collaborated with York Art Gallery to present its Arts & Crafts Collection at a special private viewing of The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. - a new exhibition exploring the archives of esteemed British textile designer, William Morris (1834-1896).
The one-night-only event on Tuesday, November 19, welcomed patrons of the York Museums Trust, VIP guests from York Theatre Royal, and social media influencers to York Art Gallery to explore the exhibition and browse fine jewellery in the Arts & Crafts Collection. This exclusive range is inspired by the British Arts and Crafts design movement (c. 1860-1920) and pays contemporary homage to its signature floral motifs through marquise-shaped sapphires and rubies, round brilliant-cut yellow sapphires, natural diamonds and hand-painted enamel.
Guided by her interest in Morris and his iconic textile designs, Bradley's Jewellers York owner Kay Bradley was delighted to discover the London-born visionary's links to North Yorkshire-based stately home, Castle Howard, which currently plays host to a Bradley's Jewellers fine jewellery and silverware concession.
The 9th Earl of Carlisle and his wife, the Countess Rosalind Howard, met William Morris in the 1860s and were enthusiastic about the Arts and Crafts movement. They admired his designs and became friends with both Morris and his wife, Jane Burden. Encouraged by this discovery, Kay began to dive deeper into Arts and Crafts and found inspiration in its ties to nature (a recurring motif in Bradley's Jewellers York's own-brand collections), its focus on British craftsmanship, which she continues to champion through the 'Created in the UK' hallmarking initiative, and its connection to the women's suffrage movement and female empowerment.
Kay Bradley comments,
"The Arts & Crafts Collection was launched in 2023 to celebrate my lifelong love of William Morris' textiles and patterns. When York Art Gallery approached me for this VIP evening, I couldn't imagine a better location to showcase these jewellery creations than surrounded by genuine Morris & Co. fabrications, prints and textiles. I would urge anyone with a passion for interiors, British art and culture to visit the exhibition before it's too late."
Highlights include the Lily of the Valley Signature Pendant in sterling silver with marquise-cut rubies, one round brilliant-cut diamond and hand-painted cold enamelled petals (£1,195); the Hyacinth Signature Floral Heart Pendant in sterling silver with marquise-cut rubies and sapphires, round brilliant-cut diamonds and yellow sapphires, plus cold enamelling (£1,950), and the Iris suite of pieces, including a ring, lapel pin, brooch, small and large pendant and earrings with marquise-cut blue sapphires, round brilliant-cut yellow sapphires and cold enamelling in sterling silver (£1,250- £1,595).
All pieces are presented in sterling silver to respect the modest principles of Arts and Crafts, although 9ct and 18ct gold versions are available to customers upon request as bespoke commissions. All are created in the UK and bear the bespoke 'A&C' logo that's exclusive to Bradley's Jewellers York as a symbol of authenticity and originality.
At York Art Gallery, Kay Bradley also showcased her best-selling in-house collections, such as York Daffodil and Daisy, which are similarly produced in the UK to high standards. The evening concluded with a special prize draw in which two lucky visitors walked away with a Hyacinth Signature Floral Heart pendant and chain with enamel details worth £170 and a Rainbow cabochon gemstone brooch in sterling silver, worth £395, respectively.
Showcasing over 130 works from the archives of Morris & Co., the original home of William Morris, The Art of Wallpaper exhibition celebrates the designer, his work, influence and legacy in UK wallpaper innovation. Visitors are transported into the 19th and 20th century interiors for which these wallpapers were produced with carefully chosen pieces of upholstered furniture in Morris & Co. fabrics to bring the story alive.
Bradley adds,
"Being able to translate the historic Arts and Crafts movement and the floral patterns of William Morris into a contemporary collection of my own is a dream come true. What made this design era so special was its focus on craftsmanship, artistry and natural themes, which are things that really align with my own principles and design style. The timing of this new exhibition at York Art Gallery could not be more fortuitous, and I am thrilled to collaborate and celebrate this chapter in design history."
The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. will continue at York Art Gallery until February 23, 2025.