Philip Noakes' questing mind and life's work have embodied his constant search for the refinement of his skills, leading him to become a renowned silversmith, goldsmith and jeweller. In 2016 he was recognised as a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths in the United Kingdom, taking his place among the most significant artists in the world. His work delves deep into his past and utilises the full range of his skills and imagination while keeping the continuity alive with historical references and contemporary concepts to achieve the innovation and excellence he pursues. Philip is a consummate craftsman and a highly original and innovative artist who refuses to be constrained by his history. He hovers on the cusp of endless possibility, searching always for something just beyond reach. The book celebrates Philip's achievements as a major Australian designer-maker and traces his evolution as a master craftsman, discusses the influences on his design concepts throughout his career, the people he has worked with, his working methods and values regarding art, design and skill, his role in education, and significant exhibitions and commissions.

Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba documents a disappearing artistic and cultural tradition with over three hundred photographs showing individual pieces, rare images of women wearing their jewelry with traditional dress, and the various regions in Yemen where the author did her field research. Amulet cases, hair ornaments, bridal headdresses, earrings, necklaces, ankle and wrist bracelets are all beautifully photographed in intricate detail. A chapter on the history of silversmithing in Yemen tells the surprising story of the famed Jewish Yemeni silversmiths, many of whom left Yemen in the late 1940s.

As well as promoting the traditional origins of handmaking craft skills, this lavish book explains the latest techniques and opportunities that exist for today's designer silversmith. It emphasizes the importance of acquiring fundamental skills as a basis for creating stunning and innovative designs, and illustrates this with fabulous case studies from leading silversmiths. Written by two experienced designer craftsmen, this book takes a fresh and exciting approach by converting craft theory into visual language that informs, educates and inspires you to try a new technique, extend your skills and develop your own personal direction.Topics covered include: a comprehensive account of manufacturing techniques; the cultural and historical context of the making and crafting of silverware; profiles of designers in handmaking, production and technology, and practical hands-on advice throughout, with world-class examples of surface decoration and specialist aspects of the craft. An in-depth and inspirational guide to 21st century silversmithing, aimed at all craftsmen - silversmiths, metalworkers, designers and jewellers. Lavishly illustrated with 594 colour illustrations.

"Here, for the first time in book form, the artist-craftsmen of Penland reveal their jewelry-making techniques - along with a set of magnificent projects - which have drawn thousands of students to the celebrated Penland School of Crafts in the mountains of North Carolina. In a fascinating step-by-step text, these master jewelers explain exactly how to make pieces of jewelry they have designed especially for this book. In language clear enough for the beginner to follow, they teach their own basic techniques, as well as some innovative ones that have never before been described in print. They also include lists of supplies needed to execute the projects, sources for obtaining them, and a glossary of standard jewelry-making terms. The instructional texts are enhanced by a series of close-up photographs - nearly 150 in all - which demonstrate with stunning clarity each step in the jewelry-making process. In addition, there are over 40 exquisite full-color photographs, forming a gallery of these artists' outstanding creations. The texts are further highlighted by autobiographical sketches of the artists, in which they reveal how they got their start, how they work, and what they think about jewelry making today." -back cover.

Your expert techniques with a silver lining! A comprehensive guide, Silversmithing for Jewelry Makers details techniques, surface treatments, and innovations specifically designed for all jewelry makers working in silver, and especially focuses on the needs and interests relevant to metal-jewelry artisans. Explore basic skills as well as specialist techniques, including filigree, chasing, annealing, engraving, etching, casting, and much more. Plus, profiles of contemporary practitioners are included in every section, along with galleries illustrating a range of beautifully crafted finished works. The handy resource section also features a how-to for selling jewelry in the contemporary accessories market. Experienced jewelry makers interested in either exploring silver for the first time or taking their silver jewelry to the next level will love this harmonious marriage between expert silversmithing advice and a jewelry artisan sensibility.

"How a female artisan became the Arab world’s top jewelry designer"—CNBC on Azza Fahmy The inspiring personal story of an exceptional female artist and entrepreneur who overcame great obstacles to become one of the most recognized jewelers in the Arab world and an international luxury brand In the Egypt of the 1970s, a young Azza Fahmy set out into the all-male world of Historic Cairo's jewelry district to apprentice as a silversmith. This was the start of a remarkable success story that would make her name an international luxury brand. With warmth and candor, she recalls a happy childhood in Upper Egypt, spent in the bygone world of postwar Egypt. This idyllic start to life ended abruptly with the death of her father, when Azza Fahmy was only thirteen, and the family was forced to move to Cairo, to begin a new life under much reduced circumstances. It was a chance find at a book fair that changed the course of events for her—sparking a passion for silversmithing, and inspiring her to seek out the master craftsmen of Khan al-Khalili, the great craft district of Historic Cairo, and the nearby Sagha, or goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ district. Through her intimate knowledge of these jewelry workshops, Azza Fahmy takes us through the quarter’s exquisite architecture and bustling alleyways, peopled with silversmiths, goldsmiths, brass workers, and artisans of every stripe, and lays out the indelible influence this now disappearing world has left on her acclaimed jewelry designs. While Azza Fahmy’s story is one of great accomplishment, woven through it are her struggles as a single mother, a middle-class Egyptian, and a woman working in a man's profession. This memoir, a tribute to the people and places that shaped her creative imagination, is also an ode to the conviction that with hope and perseverance, anything is possible.

Britain is one of a triumvirate of nations - the others being France and Italy - that is revered globally for its fine craftsmanship and heritage skills. However, while France is wedded to the continuation of 17th- and18th-century master craftsmanship and Italy is focused on particular materials, notably leather working and stone working, Britain is uniquely able to both look back and move forward where craft is concerned. Nowhere else will you find true excellence and mastery of a craft coupled with such innovation and eye for design. Craftsmanship in Britain is neither dying nor dead, but is a continuing and exciting exploration of process, materials and ideas spanning architecture, interiors, fashion and art. Cool, Calm and Collected introduces the vast array of British craft, from the craftspeople who keep the heritage alive, such as Savile Row tailors and stained-glass makers, to crafts on the edge of extinction - clog makers, damask weavers - and urban craft, artists and more. Illustrated throughout with stunning shots of the finished products, to behind-the-scenes images in studios and workshops or craftspeople at work, this timely publication celebrates the bespoke craft skills of Britain as a global force, and will hopefully inspire a new generation to seriously consider a professional life in craft.