Micheal Bolton
Born in London 1938. Began Career as Designer (fold/Silversmith Jeweller in 1970 with no formal training, after an initial career in commerce. The work in Silver and Gold is inspired by the magic and aura of Medieval, Celtic, Roman and Anglo Saxon metalwork, tile romanticism of the King Arthur Legends, and the ethics and ideology of the late 19th and early 20th Century British Arts and Crafts Movement. I work with my wife and young designers, giving them complete training but plenty of freedom to find their own levels and ability, which has always been very high. All items are designed with an innate skill and love of tile craft of Silver and Goldsmithing, the precious metals contributing their natural quality and beauty to the finished item. The most important item in the workshop being the one in the process of completion. Exhibited collections of work at home,and abroad and is much sought after for private and corporate commissions; where completely unique individual items are required for presentation, use and investment.
Date of Birth:
Associations:
Awards:
Commissions: 1984: Masters' Lady Chain and Budge.The Worshipful Company of
Carpenters, London - Commissioned by Mr. Basil Engert -
Liveryman:Table Top Snuff Box for Court Collection.
Award for Sadlers ;Wells Royal Ballet Company - Commissioned by Mr. John Newson - Honorary Friend to the Company.
Silver jewellery supplied for Goddards Silver Cleaner advertisement.
Received concession to work gold 'for the Clogau St. David's Mine - Goldmine from which gold for the Royal Family's Wedding Rings was mined.
Exhibited and demonstrated at all "Art in Action" International Art Exhibitions, Waterperry, Oxford.
1984: Collectiori of work for the sponsors of Glyndebourne operas:
1986: Designed and handmade Altar Plate for St. 'Nicholas's Church,
Pevensey, Sussex, which is the church from which the
Crusaders set sail to the Crusades (at the time the church was
within yards of the sea and is now landlocked).
1986: Spent time in' India, sponsored by the Indian Government, initially
to be influenced by the Indian craftsmen in all materials and the
Indian culture, and to advise and assist in quality
control and promotion. .
1987: Designed end handmade, in Gilded Sterling Silver, a complete
collection of Altar and Church Plate for a private Roman Catholic
Chapel in America, including a 3 foot diameter Christening Font.
1987: Commissioned by H. & T. Walker, and made for 5 years, a Gold
Cup for Ascot Races.
1987: Private commission of 12 place settings of Cutlery with 12
handmade Silver Goblets,
Serving Ladles and other tableware.
1989: Commissioned by the Indian High Commission in Brussels to visit
India for EEC, to advise and report on' the rapidly expanding
Indian Gold Jewellery industry.
I989: Commissioned by Mrs. Roger Poole to design and snake a pair of
Silver Commemorative Altar Candlesticks for St Michaels Church
Framlingham, Suffolk.
1990: Commissioned by Mr & Mrs. Rowan Atkinson to design and make
their Engagement and Wedding Rings. ..
1992: Commissioned by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, London:
Master's Annual Christmas Present -.38 Silver Spoons
1992: Commissioned by Benenden Girls School, to design and make
Special presentation pieces and gifts.
1992: Designed and made for SL Anne's and St. Leonard's Churches,
Bewdley, Worcestershire - Altar Cruets and Pateh
1993: Designed and made Ring and Pectoral Cross for the Right
Reverend' Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell (Essex)
1993: Silver Spoon, presented to Diana, The Princess of Wales, to
celebrate 10 years of her freedom of the Grocers' Company.
Commissioned by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Smiley,Bt - Master
of the Company 1992-1993. .
1994: Commissioned by Mrs. Briget Johnson to make; in Sterling Silver,
In Memorium Altar Crucifix for St. Mary's Church, Ticehurst
E.Sussex.
1994: Cutlery and Silverware made and supplied for the film "The
Madness of George III",Commissioned by Mad George Films Ltd.,
for which the set Director, Caroline Scott, received the
Hollywood `Oscar'.
1996: Commissioned to make Silver & Gold Pectoral Cross for the Right
Reverend Michael Beckley - Suffragan Bishop of Dorking. '
1996: Commissioned to design and make Silver & Gold Watercolour
paintbox for Dame Judi Dench
1997: Commissioned by Equitable Life Assurance Society for their stand
at National Association of Pension Funds Conference &
Exhibition, Harrogate Conference Centre -
Designed and produced presentation pack, incorporating Sterling
Silver Key Ring and Fob, bearing embossed Equitable Life Coat of
Arms.
1997: Founder Member of Association of British Designer Silversmiths
A.B.D.S. Self Help group of Silversmiths for Silversmiths.
1st Communion 200 Pieces " Millenium Collection" sponsered by
the Millenuim Lottery Fund of Sheffield City. to comemorate 700
years of Cutlery making in Sheffield.
1998: Year of Exhibition at Worshpful Company of Goldsmiths.
1999: Cutlery: Ancient and Modern Exhibition at the Worshipful Company
of Goldsmiths at the Princess Royal.
1999: Commission for Princess Anne to commerate 25 years as Patron
to the WRENS Benevolent Fund.
1999: Private Wedding Commission for Sophie Reece-Jones.
Bishop of Bradwell (Essex).
1993: Silver Spoon, presented to Diana, The Princess of Wales, to celebrate 10 years of her
freedom of the Grocers' Company. Commissioned by Lieutenant Colonel Sir John Smiley,
. 13t. ? Master of the Company 1992?1993. .
1994: Commissioned by Mrs. Briget Johnson to make; in Sterling Silver, In Memorium Altar
Crucifix for St. Mary's Church, Ticehurst, E. ?Sussex.
1994: Cutlery and Silverware made and supplied for the film "The Madness of George III",
Commissioned by Mad George Films Ltd., for which the set Director, Caroline Scott,
. received the Hollywood `Oscar'.
1996: Commissioned to make Silver & Gold Pectoral Cross for the Right Reverend Michael
Beckley ? Suffragan Bishop of Dorking. '
1996: Commissioned to design and make Silver & Gold Watercolour paintbox for Dame Judi
Dench.
1997:, 1 Commissioned by Equitable Life Assurance Society for their stand at National
Association of Pension Funds Conference & Exhibition, Harrogate Conference Centre ?
Designed and produced presentation pack, incorporating Sterling Silver Key Ring and
Fob, bearing embossed Equitable Life Coat of Arms.
Education: 1970-980:
Self Training and establishing career, and ehibiiting at Boadicea, Beauchamp Place,London. 'Teaching Ceramics at Hammersmith School of Art & Building; London.
Selling work to the Design Department of Hamlyn Books, Feltham, Middlesex. Loot and Super Loot Exhibitions at The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
Students of Jewellery and Silversmithing from The Central, Sir John Cass, Medway, Canterbury, Guildhall and Schoonhoven, Holland,have served their placements and workshop experience with me,and now have successful careers. My original apprentice now~teaches jewellery and silversmithing at Bedgebury School for Girls, Goudhurst, Kent. '
I have also taken several sixth formers from out local Comprehensive School, for work experience and training.
Group Exhibitions: 1985: Silver and Jewellery in British Embassy, Brussels.
1989: Collection of Indian influenced Jewellery, shown with Indian
Antique Jwellery Zamana
Gallery, London.
1989: "Rich and Rare" exhibition, Oxfordshire. '
1989: London Jewellery Fair, Olympia., ,
1989: Paynes, Retail Jewellers, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent.
1989: Broughton Gallery, Biggar, Lanarkshire. ' '
1989: Earls Court trade Fair, London. '
1990: Bicentenary Exhibition at Hever Castle, Kent;
invited ,by Paynes, Retail Jewellers, Tunbridge Wells. ,
1990:, "Love rind Passion", Easton Rooms, Rye, East Sussex.
1990; Ecclesiastical Arts and Crafts, Coventry Cathedral.
1990: "Discerning Eye", Mall Galleries, London. ,
1991: Broughton Galleries, Biggar, Lanarkshire.
1992: Fiery Beacon Gallery„ Painswick, Gloucestershire. .
1992: Ist. Rochester Garden Festival, Rochester, Kent.
1992: exhibition in aid of. the Prince's Trust ? Goldsborough, Chartwell
House, Kensington
London.
1993: "Care," (Conservation of Listed Buildings in bent),
Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent. .
1993: East Anglian "Home & Garden" Festival, Newmarket Racecourse,.
Newmarket, Suffolk.
1993: "Traditions", Dover ,Museum,, Dover, Kent.
1993: ' "Best of British", Oaks Simpson, Piccadilly, London.
1993: "From Paper to Platinum', Lesley Craze Gallery, Clerkenwell
Green, London.
1994: "Best Crafts", St. George's Vineyard, Waldron, Sussex. .
1994: Ist. Patchings Art Convention, Calverton, Nottingham.
1994: Broughton Gallery, Biggar, Lanarkshire. .
1994: To Commemorate 100 years of their Silver Department, Harrods,
Knightsbridge, London.
1994: "Everybody's Shakespeare", Tile Barbican, London ? Silver
Drinking Vessals and Jewells.
1994: Lesley Craze Jewellery & Silverware Gallery, London ? to
Celebrate its Tenth Anniversary.
1994: Opening Exhibition at The Ashbourne Art Gallery, Ashbourne,
Kent.
1995: Opening Exhibition at the Fairfax Fine Art Gallery, Tunbridge
Wells, Kent.
1995: The Crypt Gallery, Seaford, East Sussex.
1995: Tile Oxford Gallery, Oxfordshire. .
1996: Gave lecture to Consultants, Specialists and Nurses at the
Conquest Hospital Hastings.
East Sussex.
1996: . "Dazzle" Contemporary Jewellery & Silverware at the National
Theatre, South Bank.
London.
Solo Exhibitions:
Travel: Nationally, No Internationally, No
Press Quotes: B.B.C. "Clothes Show" -Collection, of unique handmade Wedding Rings,
'BBC. "Pebble Mill at One".
B. B. C. "Genuine Article" - programme about silver forgery.
T. V. S. "Looking South" - Artists of the Isle-of Oxney.
BBC. "Clothes Show" - Leading fashion programme.
T.V.S. "Country Ways" -Beautifully produced show of local interest.
Meridian "News" Item, and "Country Ways"
Sunday Times and The Colour Supplement, Financial Times. The Times, Guardian,'Telegraph, Country Life, House & Gardens; Harpers & Queen, Elle Fashion .& Elle Decoration Magazines, Country Homes & Interiors, BBC. Home & Antiques, Period House, Wedding & Home,. British Style, Country Living, and local Newspapers and Trade Gazette.
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