University News Last updated 12 May 2015
Throughout 2015, the School of Jewellery is celebrating its 125th anniversary, so we thought we'd take a quick look back on more than a century of history.
1889 – 4 November
The Birmingham Jewellers and Silversmiths Association – now the British Jewellers’ Association – met at the Assay office with representatives of jewellery and silverware manufacturing companies and discussed setting up a school for the industry.
The impulse was motivated by the success of pilot classes given at the Ellen Street Board School where 160 boys enrolled.
The new school, it was agreed, would have the capacity to welcome 460 students.
Craftsmen classes were mostly envisaged for boys aged twelve and a half years and over, while separate women’s courses were also considered.
1890 – 18 September
The School of Jewellery opened in the factory building at 84 Vittoria Street inaugurated by Birmingham Mayor, Alderman Clayton.
The development was made possible by architects Martin & Chamberlain, who converted a goldsmith’s factory into a suitable infrastructure for the school.
1901
The status of the school moved from ‘Branch School’ to ‘Independent School of Art’ under the title ‘The Vittoria Street School for Jewellers and Silversmiths’.
1906
Architects Cossins, Peacock and Bewley designed a third storey to be added to the building on Vittoria Street.
1911
A red brick mottled with blue extension was designed by Cossins, Peacock and Bewley and added to the south of the building.
Additionally, the School was commissioned to make a cask of silver, enamel, gold, mother-of-pearl and iron for Birmingham Mayor and MP Jesse Collings.
On the cask were inscribed the following words: ‘Presented to the Right Honourable Jesse Collings MP with Honorary Freedom of the City of Birmingham 13 June 1911.’
1922
The School was commissioned to create a silver and gold casket for the Princess Royal's wedding present. On it were pictured an owl, a deer, foliage detail, four feet and a hinged lid.
The following words were inscribed on the casket: ‘Presented by the citizens of Birmingham to HRH Princess Mary – On the Occasion of her Marriage to Viscount Lascelles DSO, Feb. 28’22’. The cask featured in the Festival of Britain in 1951.
1935
The School was commissioned by Birmingham City Council to make a cup and cover to celebrate King George V’s Silver Jubilee.
Made in silver, gold, pearls and enamel, it bore the royal cipher “GR” and a gold jubilee medallion with Birmingham’s coat of arms.
Its inscription reads ‘Presented to the Lord Mayor by the Principal Officers of the City in commemoration of the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King George V. 1935.’
1939
At the beginning of the Second World War the School was evacuated to Tewkesbury.
1948
A torch (pictured) for the XIV Olympiad, which took place in London, was commissioned by Goldsmiths Hall. It was designed by Ralph Lavers.
It's inscription reads ‘This torch was commissioned and made for the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths on the occasion of the XIV Olympiad held in London in 1948’.
The torch was exhibited at the Festival of Britain in 1951.
1951
The jewellery and silversmithing department of the College of Art and Crafts was moved into the School of Jewellery.
They merged to become a single school within the College. Vittoria Street emphasised craft skills whereas the Margaret Street campus focused on design.
1964
For the first time, titanium was used to design jewellery following a suggestion by researcher at Imperial Metal Industries (IMI) to School of Jewellery headmaster Gerald Whiles.
1982
One of the most expensive jewels in the world was designed by Ba (Hons) Jewellery and Silversmithing graduate Mark Walker whilst India on a one-year scholarship.
The jewel was a crown for the idol at the Hindu temple of Tirupati.
1988
Recognising the unique part it had played in the development of Birmingham’s jewellery industry, The School was re-established as a separate department of the College.
1990
The School celebrated its centenary. For the occasion, a major exhibition “Finely Taught, Finely Wrought” was held for four months at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
The exhibition featured more than four hundred exhibits and the Prince of Wales wrote the preface to its catalogue:
1992
Following the acquirement of the adjoining property to the 1911 extension, the university extended further while refurbishing older buildings.
70-74 Vittoria Street was demolished and replaced by a new building. A further south extension was commissioned and constructed between 1992 and 1993.
1997
The Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre (JIIC) was set up to assist the jewellery and silversmithing industries and conduct research.
Its holistic ‘concept to prototype’ approach and its links within the industry and with enterprises, association, universities and research institutes have contributed to its international status.
1998
MA student Anongkarat Unyawong won a competition to design a trophy for the writer of the winning song of the Eurovision contest held in Birmingham during the same year.
2006
The School was included in the Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership.
Communities Minister at the time, David Miliband MP, witnessed the signature of the charter that aimed to protect the area’s unique character of workshops.
2010
Birmingham School of Jewellery BA and MA graduate Jonathan Olliffe’s 50 pence coin designs were chosen to commemorate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games after he won a competition by Royal Mint.
The two coins, that feature an Olympic swimmer and a gymnast, were picked from nearly 30,000 entries.
2011
The world’s most expensive shoes were created at the Jewellery Industry Innovation Centre.
The Eternal Borgezie Diamond Stiletto cost a staggering £100,000 per pair and was encrusted with 2,200 handset diamonds with a total weight of 30 carats.
2013
The School launched a new course in Horology, believed to be the first ‘clock-making’ degree in the world.
Researchers of the School attracted worldwide attention with their work on the Cheapside Hoard, a collection of precious artefacts and jewels dating back to more than four hundred years ago.
Helped with laser scanning and 3D printing, researchers Ann-Marie Carey and Keith Adcock were able to produce replicas of the hoard and reveal some of the processes for making artefacts.
A number of replicas were exhibited at the Museum of London, which gained international coverage in various media such as Fox News and Australia’s Telegraph.
2014 - 25 November
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall toured the School as a part of their Jewellery Quarter visit.
Their royal highnesses were presented with limited edition handcrafted silver fountain pens, designed by alumnus and award-winning artisan and goldsmith Jack Row.
School of Jewellery 125th anniversary celebrations