Author: John Huddleston

A recent commission has been to make a shell to be used during a christening.

This shell is about three inches wide and is inspired by a scallop shell.  In developing the idea I cast a sea shell, but, at 1.5 inches across it was too small to be practical in the ceremony.  The detail on the outer shell has come out well in the casting.

That inspired me to cast something larger and I bought an example of Pseudopecten acuticosta.  The fossil was found in Gloucestershire and is about 170 million years old.  It is about 2.25 inches across.  It is only a half section, recessed on the other side, so could be used for a baptism though it doesn’t hold much water.

As developments of the original commission, the image below shows a shell shape  that doesn’t have a handle.

And finally, for now…

This shell is a pressing based on the fossil above.  It is nearer 2.5 inches across and very suitable for a baptism shell.

All bar the top shell are available for sale in my shop.

 

To be fitted on the shaft of a walking stick.  I’ve previously made ferrules and covers for rubber ferrules.  I didn’t do the engraving, but I know a man who can.

Over the years, I’ve cast a number of different sort of nut and seed/pip. The most popular is the hazelnut, usually as a pendant, but sometimes as a brooch or cufflinks.  Until now, I’ve never made a silver nutmeg, but here they are

Solid, life sized, hallmarked and weighing about 40g each, they join my collection of silver nectarine seeds, silver brazil nuts, silver walnuts, silver olive seeds, silver hazelnuts, silver almonds, silver acorns and silver pistachios.  You can buy a nutmeg via this link.

Different nuts and golden pears by special request only!

 

These earrings are 8mm wide and 12mm long.  they have a dappled effect on what is currently the front side and a plain side to the rear, but they could be reversed.  They are also available with stud fittings.  Available in my shop.  I can make other sizes or finishes on request.

The inner band of this ring is surrounded by three silver wires, two of which form claws for the stone and the inner actually forms the ring.  It’s a new design for me to accomodate a deep stone, which I think is peridot, though my client thought was citrine.

This recent commission was completed a few weeks ago, but embargoed until the gifts were given.  The basic design of the dragon was provided by the client and I translated it in silver.

 

The pendant is laser engraved with initials on the front and a date on the rear. All are laser hallmarked.

The Reverend Canon Michael Beasley will be the next Bishop of Hertford from May 2015.  I was delighted to be asked to make his ring and pectoral cross.  Michael had seen my style of work on my website and thought it matched his requirements.

Here he is at the first wearing

The cross is a plain, solid sterling silver with a satin finish.

His ring is also a simple rub-over set, 14 x 10 amethyst cabochon.

I wish him every success and happiness in his new role.

I’ve just cast  some small ammonites – a centimetre or less.  These are fine for a really discrete, light pendant or earrings. They are available in my shop.

This is a delft clay cast of an AK47 bullet or more accurately cartridge. It is solid silver weighing 34 grams and is fully hallmarked. It is not a perfect replica, due to the limitations of my casting method.  Available from my shop.

Just under 6cm long.  A variation on my standard spoons by plating the bowl with gold.  Available from my shop.

These two collars were commissioned for two large dogs – the circumference of one is 60 cm and the other 65cm.  My neck is only 37 cm!

They are solid sterling silver. After the stage shown here when they had been hallmarked, they were engraved and then the owner arranged for the insides to be lined with leather for the dogs’ comfort.  Each contains close on 400g of silver – not too heavy for this size of dog, but needed to cope with their strength.

I could make similar versions – maybe smaller and lighter – for decorative rather than functional use.

 

Two new pieces just added to my website shop.  I bought a rough lump of orange quartz and made some slices.  This piece is the ‘crust’  – one of the outer edges mounted on a simple silver mount.

The pendant below is a salt casting with a platform created for a small slice of peacock ore.

This pendant is the size and thickness of a popular round mint. The five small circles and small cyclindrical bumps. The piece was cuttlefish cast to give the rich texture. The centre has a thin gold plate to add contrast.  It is on sale in my shop.

The one on the left weighs 17 grams and is about 40 mm across. The other weighs 7 grams and is about 35 mm across. There’s a half loop on the back for the chain. Both are hallmarked as sterling silver.  This was a new departure for me.  I created the two starfish shapes using a mouldable plastic called ‘Polymorph’ and these plastic models were used for delft clay casting.  They are on sale in my shop.

A silver matchbox – that must have accessory to keep decorative but otherwise useless silver matches in

Whilst I was in a box making mood, I also made a sames sized conventional box.  It would also hold matches, but more usefully pills or some little treasures.

Both are available from my shop

A wood turner asked me to form a silver rim for a bowl he had created.  The picture shows the result. The rim is made from fine (99.9%) silver and you can just make out the hallmark at the back.  It’s black and was laser imprinted by the London Assay Office.

If you are a wood turner and are interested in me making a similar rim, please get in touch at an early stage in your project.

A new addition to my treble clef range is a delicate treble clef pendant.

The clef is about 23 mm high with a fine trace chain, but I could make any size with a range of chains.

St Brigid is one of the patron saints of Ireland.  I have just delivered a commission of a full sized (30 cm) St Brigid’s cross in sterling silver.

The cross is traditionally woven from reeds.  This one has been constructed by weaving in the same way, but using oval solid silver wire.  The cross  has loops for wall hanging on the rear horizontal arms.  It weighs about 450 grams – one imperial pound.

On arrival, my client said, ‘it is stunning!  Thank you for accepting this commission’.

Since then I have made a couple of smaller versions.  They have been sold, but I can make others to commission.

 

 

Following the commission from the PTES for 21 silver and gold plated hazelnuts, I’ve had steady sales of these hazelnuts – including one to a Hatton Garden jeweller.  I have recently been commissioned to produce another set of three, but from the client’s collection of natural hazelnuts that have a high sentimental value.

I was delighted to get the following feedback.

“The necklaces arrived today!  I am so delighted with them- they look even better than the photographs.  I was surprised and delighted with the weight of the hazelnuts- you made such a fantastic job of them.  Thank you for your excellent communication throughout this process- I really felt you did your absolute best for me.  I can’t thank you enough- it’s a lovely reminder of our ……”

I’ve recently been commissioned to make some clasps for minature medals in silver.  By agreement with my client, the implementation was not as complex as a provided silver plated brass example as you can see here.

Here’s what it looks like in use.  My client is very pleased.

This bracelet is a special order.  The customer liked the concept of an existing piece (in the shop), but wanted the texture to match a pendant also purchased.  This is the result.

This striking piece of jewellery resulted from a special request to have a pendant containing a haematite (hematite) of a certain minimum wieght and and a minimum quantity of silver and iron.

The result is a geometric design with two iron rings, one either side, to get the necessary weight with a white metal triangle and stone bezel.  Formally because of the mixed metals, it cannot be assayed and hence the formal description of the triangle is white metal, though it was constructed with standard sterling and fine silver stock.

Two new designs of cat brooch will be on show at my Artweeks events.

These are available from my website shop.

A special request for a silver matchstick to complement another artwork.  As you can see these are real size, but purely decorative.

Not shown, but these are hallmarked.  What next?  Silver toothpicks?  They would be more useful!

 

A special request – a silver frog with a gold eye.  Quite harmless – likes sitting on coats or scarves.  No frogs were harmed in the making of this brooch.

The British brass threepenny piece is a very characteristic coin and one that brings back the era before decimalisation to many. I’ve made several sets of cufflinks with these coins – usually to reflect a date of birth.  Here is an example.

These have a bezel/ wrap over setting, but I do other styles.  I have pairs of coins for 1937,1938,1940 to 1945, 1952-55, 1957,1960-1964,1966 & 1967, but most dates between 1937 and 1967 are available (at a price).  There’s no reason not to use the coins in brooches or pendants too.

At the end of the year, I produced, as a commission, a daffodil pin.  I’ve now had a light gold plating put on the daffodil trumpet which improves it greatly – well I think so!

A development from the brooch available from my shop.  The earrings are available with loop or stud fittings.

I’m developing a new skill – filigree work.  I thought it looked easy – but……

However, I think I’m getting the hang of it.  Here are a couple of examples that will be in the shop shortly.

Serious stamp collectors like to know whether the stamp is printed on chalky paper or not.  I’m told the only accepted way is to make a mark on the perforation with a piece of pure silver.  I was asked to make a tester and here it is ( with the help of my wood turner friend).

This particular handle is bubinga wood.

Now Christmas has passed and the gifts have been given, here are some of the commissions I’ve made recently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A recent commission was this daffodil brooch

For scale – across the petals is about 20mm and the pin is about 50 mm.  The pin is stainless steel for strength, but the flower and pin protector are sterling.  It is not assayed as it only weighs about 3 grams.

The next development will making more and gold plating the trumpet.

A shallow silver dish about 100 mm (four inches) in diameter and weighing about 65 grams.  There is plenty of space for engraving.