Two lectures and a workshop session by Joanna Hardy.
How History and Fashion have influenced Jewellery Design 1800 – 1900
The French revolution of 1789 not only swept away the old regime, but also triggered a series of changes in habits, lifestyles, government, religion and calendar which were felt throughout Europe. Queen Victoria was expanding her wealthy empire and trade and commerce were flourishing both in France and England. The jewellery trade started to recover with the reversal of fortune and the exciting discoveries of ancient archaeological sites. The opportunities to travel meant that jewellery became an exciting addition to the ever increasing appetite for the new, the exotic and the unusual.
A second lecture explores the exciting world of Contemporary Jewellery 1960 – 2018
Joanna Hardy is the author of ‘Collect Contemporary Jewelry’ and is passionate about introducing newcomers to the delights of buying from craftsmen today. The lecture will start with revolutionary 1960s and discuss the importance of new material coming into the design world – from acrylic (fashionable again today) as well as titanium. Joanna will then conclude with an exploration of value, quality and design in today’s marketplace and show how forgotten or unloved jewels can be transformed into jewellery that can be worn and enjoyed once more.
The afternoon session – How to get the most from your jewellery
Joanna will conduct a consultancy seminar where members have the opportunity to bring their own jewels along to be assessed as to their value or discuss the possibilities of altering their jewels if appropriate.
Places can be booked (£30 per person) at the next lecture or online here.
Joanna Hardy
Joanna Hardy is an independent fine jewellery specialist with over 35 years experience working in the jewellery industry. She began her career training as a goldsmith at Sir John Cass College, London before working as a rough diamond grader for De Beers. She then became one of the first women to be a polished diamond dealer in Antwerp and then joined Philips the Auctioneers in London. She moved on to Sotheby’s and was their senior jewellery specialist and auctioneer for fourteen years and since 2009 has worked independently. Joanna lectures and writes articles for publications worldwide and is a published author with her books, Collect Contemporary Jewelry, Emerald, Ruby, published by Thames and Hudson and a contributing author to Graff published by Rizzoli and Cartier Panthère published by Assouline. She curates contemporary jewellery exhibitions and has recently launched her Online Fine Jewellery School. Joanna is a Fellow of the Gemmological Association, Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, a Trustee Board member of Gem-A, a Liveryman and a Court Assistant of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and is a regular jewellery specialist on the BBC Antiques Roadshow.