"In the Beginning"
I still remember the days when I was just a boy, going to see my father working together with my uncle and cousins in their jewellery workshop. I was always given something to do. I suppose this was my first inspiration; watching all the beautiful workmanship taking shape into the most exquisite pieces in gold and silver. Sometimes they would have a big commission, usually from a parish priest, to create an exclusive piece for his church, as you see in the examples below!
We were a family of seven; my mother, father and five children, myself being the eldest. When I was fourteen I had to leave school to help the family, so I joined my father and cousins in the family workshop. I loved working alongside them and quickly learnt silver and goldsmithing, along with the camaraderie and banter that still keeps me light hearted today.
My father was my hero and my greatest inspiration; a man of honour and an exceptional jeweller.
After six years, I was invited to join the Goldsmith's Hall in Malta’s Capital city, Valletta. Here I learned to test and hallmark gold and silver. They were very interesting years, but I craved to be creating pieces of my own again, so I acquired a small workshop next to my parents house. By this point my father had semi retired, so there I worked until I moved to England.
Today I find the inspiration for my silversmithing is mostly historical. I am greatly inspired by the Byzantine designs which we used back in Malta, and the Viking and Crusader eras too. I also love to recreate nature or a land or seascape, all fashioned from the silver sheet or wire. Like my passion for painting, it is quite breathtaking what one can create with a good design. My work is mostly made from Argentium (935) Silver, a higher-grade silver that contains no copper. The reason I use this is because it doesn't tarnish so easily. It keeps its shine and is lovely to work with. I like to hammer or put texture into my work which I feel gives a more interesting finish. I occasionally use gem stones, pearls and other natural elements, but I particularly love creating something interesting just from the silver itself. I hope you enjoy browsing some of the historical work my family and I made below, you’ll find more in the pages of my store. I happily take commissions and like to work closely with my client and their ideas, so please get in touch.
I still remember the days when I was just a boy, going to see my father working together with my uncle and cousins in their jewellery workshop. I was always given something to do. I suppose this was my first inspiration; watching all the beautiful workmanship taking shape into the most exquisite pieces in gold and silver. Sometimes they would have a big commission, usually from a parish priest, to create an exclusive piece for his church, as you see in the examples below!
We were a family of seven; my mother, father and five children, myself being the eldest. When I was fourteen I had to leave school to help the family, so I joined my father and cousins in the family workshop. I loved working alongside them and quickly learnt silver and goldsmithing, along with the camaraderie and banter that still keeps me light hearted today.
My father was my hero and my greatest inspiration; a man of honour and an exceptional jeweller.
After six years, I was invited to join the Goldsmith's Hall in Malta’s Capital city, Valletta. Here I learned to test and hallmark gold and silver. They were very interesting years, but I craved to be creating pieces of my own again, so I acquired a small workshop next to my parents house. By this point my father had semi retired, so there I worked until I moved to England.
Today I find the inspiration for my silversmithing is mostly historical. I am greatly inspired by the Byzantine designs which we used back in Malta, and the Viking and Crusader eras too. I also love to recreate nature or a land or seascape, all fashioned from the silver sheet or wire. Like my passion for painting, it is quite breathtaking what one can create with a good design. My work is mostly made from Argentium (935) Silver, a higher-grade silver that contains no copper. The reason I use this is because it doesn't tarnish so easily. It keeps its shine and is lovely to work with. I like to hammer or put texture into my work which I feel gives a more interesting finish. I occasionally use gem stones, pearls and other natural elements, but I particularly love creating something interesting just from the silver itself. I hope you enjoy browsing some of the historical work my family and I made below, you’ll find more in the pages of my store. I happily take commissions and like to work closely with my client and their ideas, so please get in touch.
