Michael Bolton

This week, we are majoring on Michael Bolton, our most favourite silversmith.

Michael Bolton was the most remarkable self-taught silversmith and jeweller who we knew well until his sadly early death in 2005. He was a larger than life character with a Father Christmas beard who made extraordinary pieces of jewellery and objet d’art and was ready to take on unique and often improbable commissions, some of which, mainly rings set with the most enormous gemstones from India, are in our possession. He was a perfectly lovely man whose wife Margaret also made beautiful silver jewellery of a slightly less extravagant design. Michael was also a natural teacher who taught a number of young jewellers their trade. Rings like this great chunk of silver were his earliest trademark pieces and are highly desirable and enjoyably wearable, not to mention pretty cool. Michael made jewellery for several of the rockest rock stars who were on the impressive list of his patrons.

Do keep watching, his pieces are wonderful.