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Anthony Elson
Anthony Gordon Elson: born 1935 Worthing, Sussex. Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.
1956 trained under Dunstan Pruden at Brighton College of Art where he received a diploma.
1960 to the Royal College of Art with a BA and Silver Medal for geometrical decoration in 1963 and in 1964 received a travelling bursary. Worked for William Comyns Ltd. 1964-68 where he was introduced to the production techniques that governed commercial viability. He went to Geneva and Tiffany's factory in New York. 1968 bought Blunt & Wray, an old established ecclesiastical manufacturer which produced mainly brass churchwork but had a small silversmithing workshop. By 1976 the company employed 25 producing Elson's designs, the domestic silver production subsidising the ecclesiastical business. He aimed at mass production through retailers and a fine jug (1972) and cigarette box (1974) in the Goldsmiths Company collection illustrates his work. With the decline of the ecclesiastical market and tough economic climate of the late 1970's he appointed a liquidator in 1981 and this side of the business was sold to A E Jones in Birmingham. In the same year he formed Anthony Elson Silversmiths establishing a successful design and prototype workshop in Clerkenwell, London, working with freelance specialists, concentrating on individual silver commissions. In 2002 he moved the Studio and workshop to Wadhurst in East Sussex.
In 1979 he edited a book published by the NAG "A Silversmith's Manual" by Bernard Cuzner. Elson has been the Chairman of the Council for Craft at the Goldsmith's Company and also served on the Council of City of London Guilds. Many prominent commissions from the City of London, London Stock Exchange, City livery companies, universities, corporations, Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Lincoln Cathedral and the King of Nepal. Has exhibited widely in the UK, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia and the Middle East. His work can be found in many private and institutional collections. Anthony is succesfully experimenting with colouring silver using various chemical processes and this, on his sculptural pieces, is quite breathtaking.
Personal Statement
With a thorough understanding of the craft and concern about the diminishing range of skills within the industry, my designs endeavour, when interpreting the wishes of my patrons, to combine these rare skills with imagination.
Patterned Silver Salts 2009
Anthony Elson's current work is highly sculptural and intensely hand-crafted.
In their intense polychrome decoration these pieces pay homage to the great standing salts of Tudor England, but their mixture of matt and polished textures puts it firmly in the contemporary era.
Recently on display at the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
'Silver with a Pinch of Salt'
London 30 March - 25 April 2009
British Silver Week Launch 2nd June 2009
These innovative salts will be shown at Styles Silver during British Silver Week and commissions will be taken.
Click image to enlarge
Patterned Silver Salts 2009
Tall Open Salt/Mustard with glass liner
Spiral wave pattern on dark ground with blue bloom
Height: 140 mm
Base Diameter: 100 mm
£1895
Tall Open Salt/Mustard with glass liner Gold and black pattern
Height: 138 mm
Base Diameter: 105 mm
£1500
Low Open Salt/Mustard with glass liner Silver bead pattern on blue ground
Height: 45 mm
Diameter: 83 mm
£750
Silver Caddy Spoon
London 2009
Anthony Elson
Length: 10cm
£250
This caddy spoon has been designed exclusively for Styles Silver who commissioned it's design for British Silver Week 2009
Click image to enlarge
Silver Gilt Spoon with 2 Black Stones
Length: 120mm
£275
Click image to enlarge
Silver Spoon
Length: 103mm
£200
Click image to enlarge
Bird Tea Caddy
A recent commission for someone who likes birds and also two different types of tea.
Click image to enlarge and
see other picture
Collection of his Earlier Work
To see a selection of silver that Anthony made in the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's go to the 20th Century Design Section
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