“No goldsmith… shall from henceforth make or cause to be made any manner of vessel, jewel or any other thing of gold or silver except it be of the true alloy […] and that no manner of vessel of silver depart out of the hands of the workers, until further, that it be marked with the leopard’s head.” — Statute of Edward I in 1300
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One of Grant Macdonald’s business mantras - there are a few of them that pop up again and again - is ‘Location is everything.’
There’s a reason why our workshop is in the centre of London, and why London features so prominently in the name of our business. The craftsmanship behind the art of silversmithing has a robust tradition in Britain, and has for hundreds of years. The very building where hallmarking began is situated in London: the Goldsmiths’ Hall near St Paul’s Cathedral. It’s where every piece of silver that leaves our workshop is hallmarked.
We’re proud to have remained centrally located for so long: “London is synonymous with quality and luxury goods. At one point the south bank of the Thames was not such a desirable location and being south of the river was slightly frowned upon but these days the area is a creative hub and we are very keen to stay,’ says Grant. “Silversmithing belongs in London and as one of the largest London workshops left I hope that we can long continue in our South Bank location.”
That said, whilst Grant Macdonald London is built on a respect for heritage and traditions, we are also fascinated by contemporary techniques and an eye for modern forms. With social media and web sales inextricably linked, the internet is a huge part of the luxury goods trade - and an integral part of the future of the workshop.
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Producing London-made silver is something we’re extremely proud of - and our workshop, located on the South Bank, is always working hard to serve palaces, public institutions and collectors of silverware worldwide, with perfectly executed precious metal craftsmanship.