WillowWorkshop: Ana Meneses and Tomiko Ravn

I am continuously impressed by the talent of UK jewellers and silversmiths.
From the famous halls of the Goldsmiths’ Fair to the small shows that pop up all around the city, the standard is consistently high — frankly, much higher than what I usually see in New York City or California.

The recent WillowWorkshop group exhibition of contemporary jewellers & silversmiths at Craft Central was no exception. A collective of makers who first met in London at Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media and Design, their first workshop was on Willow Street in Shoreditch — thus the name, though they’ve recently moved to South London.

The standout works for me were:

Elegant, sculptual silver serving ware from Ana Meneses, featuring beautiful lines and a gilded interior. This piece is meant to be used like a salt cellar, with a wee coordinating spoon.

More sculptural loveliness, in the form of earrings by Tomiko Ravn. Each facet has to be worked by hand, requiring days of work.