The Royal Mint Precious Metalworker of the Year Award

Precious Metalworker of the Year
£2,000 (The Royal Mint)

This inaugural Heritage Crafts Award is to celebrate a heritage craftsperson who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of precious metalworking over the past year. It will recognise a contribution that is far beyond the ordinary, based on a proven dedication to a particular precious metalworking skill.

As well as goldsmithing, silversmithing and jewellery, this award is open to practitioners of any craft that makes significant use of precious metal, including for example gilding, hand engraving, medal making, silver spinning, metal thread embroidery, engine turning (guilloché), concert flute making, etc. To be eligible, the objects that the nominee makes must be made precious metal that has been worked using skilled hand techniques. Makers of composite objects are eligible as long as a significant proportion of the material used is precious metal.

Anyone, including the maker themselves, can nominate for this award. Nominees aged 25 and under will also be considered for the inaugural Young Metalworker of the Year Award sponsored by Lucy and Laurence Butcher. Finalists will be expected to attend the high-profile Winners’ Reception at the Vicar’s Hall, Windsor Castle on 15 November 2023.

Opening date for applications: Monday 17 July 2022
Closing date for applications: Friday 15 September 2022, 5pm

To apply
Read the application notes and then apply online

The Royal Mint’s expertise in precious metals spans over a thousand years. Known as the home of precious metals in the UK, The Royal Mint offers products including gold, silver and platinum commemorative coins, bars for investment, and a digital gold saving option, backed by metal held in their vault. As part of their commitment to sustainability, last year they announced plans to build a factory to recover precious metals from electronic waste, currently active at lab level. Recovered metal is being used to create beautiful jewellery pieces in their latest business venture, 886 by The Royal Mint.

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