This beautifully cast silver gilt brooch is by the gold and silversmith Lexi Dick. It is hallmarked for London and dated 2002. I bought it from Richard Ogden who at the time had a wonderfully old-fashioned shop in Burlington Arcade. Lexi studied at the Royal College of Art and is a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company. Lexi uses wax modelling to create her detailed pieces and says “All you need to start wax modelling is a length of wire coat hanger which you hammer at the end into a sickle shape, wax, and a meths lamp. That’s the easy bit. You need a LOT of persistence to get any good at it.”
As you examine the intricate details of Lexi’s work, it is obvious she was and continues to be very persistent in her work. Once she has made the wax model, a sprue (a slim rod of wax) is attached. It is then taken to a casting firm, who cover the piece in plaster, melt out the wax, and run molten silver into the space via the sprue.
Many of Lexi’s designs are inspired by nature. As a child she would go for walks with her father and play a game of ‘Eyes and No Eyes’ encouraging the young Lexi to look closely at all the things around her. Lexi has been commissioned to create many special and unique pieces. There is a ‘Seahorse Bowl’ made for the Emperor Hirohito (born 1901 died 1987, emperor of Japan 1926 to 1987), whose hobby was marine biology.
And set of bells made for the Worshipful Company of Grocers in 2002 for the Queen’s golden Jubilee. I love the little camel on the top.
Among the special pieces of jewellery Lexi has made, is a leopard brooch for the Goldsmiths’ company as a millennium gift. The leopard is the hallmark for the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London and is the symbol above the gates of the Goldsmiths’ Hall in London. The company was established in 1327 and is still going today. I have bought many brooches for my collection from the annual Goldsmiths’ Fair.
In 1819 John Cavendish, the 1st Earl of Burlington, commissioned the Arcade to be built. From the outset it was designed as an exclusive and expensive shopping venue. Originally there were 74 small retail outlets, but over time some have been combined and there are now 40. Two hundred years on and it is still one of the most prestigious shopping locations in London with specialist shops ranging from gloves to jewellery and perfume.