Miriam Hanid

Miriam Hanid Silver Items for Sale

The inspiration for her work comes from the imagery of water. Miriam uses water as a metaphor for the divine current of energy flowing through all forms of life. She records the ever-changing element of water in drawings and photographs. Rough sketches are transferred to the silver, informing the visual framework. The silver's form then changes rapidly throughout the making process.

Repoussé chasing: The techniques of chasing and repoussé form silver into deep contours. The metal is held in soft pitch, a tar-like substance, while wide punches are used to create depth on the surface of the silver. The process is then repeated to form the other side.
Flat chasing: A specialist technique she has adopted is to start a piece with flat chasing before it is formed. The silver sheet is held in hard pitch and fine punches are used to make defined lines. The silver is then worked on wooden formers following the main lines of the initial chasing. Often the silver is planished with steel hammers, to give a finely dappled finish.
Hand engraving: She uses hand engraving in her work to create a shimmering play of light on the silver. Faceted lines are carved out on the surface with a graving tool. After engraving the silver is then formed or shaped on wood.

Miriam has been working as a professional silversmith since 2008, creating pieces for private clients and public commissions, including the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, Eton College, New College Oxford, The Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Museum of Wales.

Her work has been exhibited in numerous exhibitions across the UK and internationally, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, KunstHalle Wurth, Germany and Liang Yi Museum, Hong Kong ; ‘Collect’ at the New Saatchi Gallery; The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh;  Inorghenta, Germany;  Petronas Towers, Malaysia; and Häme Castle, Finland.

In 2012 she was asked to produce an engraved silver band as part of a dressed walking stick that was presented to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee.  In Kenya exactly sixty years earlier in 1952, her great-grandfather made two gifts for the Queen when she visited the country.