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 | Alex Styles
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Alex Styles was born 1922. He started his education with an Arts Scholarship which took him to the Gravesend School of Art which was still influenced by the Guild of Handicraft. His tutor was Reynell Huyshe who had recently been in partnership with George Hart of the Guild of Handicraft at Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. Huyshe however was more of an academic so had decided to go into teaching and impressed on Styles the nobility of precious metals. (Later students here would include Sidney Sparrow, Norman Bassant and Ian Calvert). Styles won a Higher Exhibition to the Central School of Arts and Crafts where he benefited from the additional technical instruction given in industrial design and met H G Murphy a few times before he died in 1939. He stayed there until he joined the RAF at the end of 1941.
In 1946 he returned to silversmithing and freelance design. A chance meeting with Bertie Pittman of Wakely and Wheeler led to him becoming a staff designer for the Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Company in 1947 before moving on to Garrard when the two companies amalgamated in 1952. In 1953 he was responsible for a fine bowl with Lion and Unicorn handles to commemorate the Coronation and the following year designed his first mace, for St. Ives Town Council. Over the next few decades he would design numerous pieces of Regalia including Mayoral badges that are still in use all over the world. According to The Times newspaper of 11th April 1966 "…many think he is the finest designer of hand-made silver in England."
In 1969 the people of Caernarvon commissioned a four piece coffee set to be presented to HRH The Prince of Wales on his investiture. Alex Styles remained in constant demand by Livery Companies, Universities, Public Corporations and sponsors wanting sporting trophies. The majority of his designs were for 'one-offs' being made up by Wakely and Wheeler, or Garrard's own manufacturers, Nayler Brothers. He was predominately a designer, like his contemporary and friend Eric Clements, both being designers with the knowledge of craftsmen.
He remained with Garrard's until his retirement in 1987 and the same year saw a major retrospective of his work at Goldsmith's Hall. This publication has a representative photographic record of many of his commissioned pieces as well as some of the Garrard's stock items.
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 | Alex Styles Caddy Spoon
London 1981
Length: 7cm
Made for Garrards
Boxed
Produced for Prince Charles Wedding
£295
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Silver Churchill Box
London 1974
Garrard and Co
Designed by John Churchill and Alex Styles
No 45 /100
Centenary of the birth of Winston Churchill
Height: 11cm
Diameter: 8cm
£495
Click image to enlarge
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 | Silver Mug
London 1969
Designed by Alex Styles
Garrard
Height: 15cm
Diameter: 8cm
£690
2 available
Click image to enlarge
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Silver Salt
London 1977
Jubilee Hallmark
Designed by Alex Styles
Made by Nayler Brothers.
£195
Click image to enlarge
Small drum salt to celebrate 650th Anniversary of the Company's first Royal Charter. The body is decorated with a photoetched interpretation of the Company's arms.
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