The Pedestal is delighted to showcase and stock works by The Silver Duck.
With Charlotte Duckworth, the silversmith behind The Silver Duck, we’ve selected ten pieces from her range of cutlery and tableware – items we’re sure will enhance and energise your partaking experience.
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Charlotte Duckworth has been based in Bristol for the past 8 years, where she works from the Old Market Manor (CIC), within the Old Market area of St Philips and close to Temple Meads railway station. Old Market Manor is a community-led and built space for makers, which provides the opportunity for collaboration and the sharing of equipment in a supportive environment. Charlotte studied silversmithing, metalworking and jewellery making at Buckingham New University; the course required no prior knowledge or existing skill sets, and so students were free to explore and understand each discipline free from preconceptions. The first two years were spent in learning and honing the techniques associated with these subjects, and her projects were based primarily around jewellery and metalwork, with the option to explore other materials. Charlotte’s final year was dedicated to focus on Raising and Forging. Unfortunately the course is no longer offered at BNU, as demand has tailed off in recent years; Charlotte attributes this to a lack of awareness around these fields and the potential for a fulfilling and rewarding life-long career.
In Charlotte’s family baking and cooking together were core activities and the passion passed to her, inspiring her to focus on implements and objects associated with eating and dressing the dining table. She was also driven by the challenge of creating working items, starting with the design of individual components which when assembled results in a complete and practical tool or object – but also beautiful to look at and to use too, given their fine materials and thoughtful crafting. Charlotte works in sterling silver, where silver is alloyed with another metal, usually copper, which adds strength and hardness so making it an ideal metal for cutlery and objects. Fine silver, 99.9% pure silver, is relatively soft and although undeniably handsome is prone to denting and requires careful handling.
Along with sterling silver, Charlotte works with English holly. She came across the wood by chance on a walk and was spurred to discover its properties to determine if it would work in conjunction with silver. The native, slow growing wood is dense, but not heavy, and is most often used for turning rather than in the production of furniture. Charlotte works with slender sticks, the holly is turned and its natural form is used to fit the function, it’s then sanded whilst retaining its whiteness and is finally finished with mineral oil for protection and preservation of the wood. The resultant wood has a traditional feel to it, resembling bone or ceramics in tone and touch, both of which are commonly used in cutlery vintage and modern cutlery. Nature and fabrication come together in her jam spoon, it deploys the useful angle and hook device created by a side shoot growing off a main holly stick, and the handle can be propped and held on the rim of the jam jar.
Charlotte identifies both Scandinavian and Japanese designs as sources for her own products: the cool simplicity of the first and the intricate embellishments seen in the second with an element of playfulness distinguish her pieces. Her canapé platter was designed in collaboration with the Michelin starred chef Michael Wignall, now chef patron at The Angel, Hetton, North Yorkshire. The platter is an intriguing combination of influences, the four serving dishes emanating from the holly platter base are petal like in shape, and each seems to move given their idiosyncratic shape and style. The holly base itself is a subtle wave shape, adding to the sense of fluidity. Whereas the handles and feet are wholly practical and with an industrial feel – bringing a charismatic touch to the piece. The stems of the silver dishes fit into drilled holes, made from silver tube and sheet, utilised in order to protect the holly from possible damage through the inserting and removal of the stems from the base. The canapé platter was exhibited at Make Southwest – a charity set up to promote contemporary craft and design through retail space and galleries and located in Bovey Tracey, Devon – and was awarded the bronze award in 3D Silversmithing in the Goldsmiths Craft and Design competition, 2019.
Charlotte’s condiment platter was created after the canapé platter, and she notes that its formulation took her out of her comfort zone as she sought to develop her range. The striking piece features a long, elegant spoon and a small bowl which sits in a shallow seat drilled out of the holly platter. The silver feet, drilled into the base of the platter, make the piece even more sophisticated, bringing stability and balance and a touch of whimsy. Her full table setting, comprising two forks, two knives, a tablespoon and a dessert spoon, is reminiscent of an era when people travelled with their own set of cutlery. Charlotte’s aim was to create a bespoke shape for these items, and although they remind one of traditional flatware she has realised unique and contemporary implements.
Charlotte is also pleased to receive commissions and relishes working with clients to conceive a piece for a special individual or an occasion. She has recently produced a pair of napkin rings each replete with particular engravings, and a jigger – everyday objects used on a regular basis which because of this deserve to be turned into personalised items.
Welcome to The Silver Duck!
View the selection of Charlotte’s cutlery and tableware stocked at The Pedestal Bespoke here