Jonathan Olliffe

               Contemporary Fine Metalwork

The pieces in each collection explore the concept of functional tableware and sculpture. With the aim to challenge this concept I intend to question where the boundary lies between silverware and sculpture. The variation of scale,  form  and function of each piece may suggest different meanings and my intention is to provoke people’s perceptions of what they may think contemporary silverware should be.

My approach  to using  hand raising techniques within the pieces I make shows the honest nature of this very  traditional process of forming the metal into shape , allowing the beauty of the hammer marks to be deliberately exposed and the exaggerated shapes to dominate .It is my intention to sometimes allow the constructed nature of the vessel to be seen  and use materials and surface finishes not often associated with precious and non precious metals.

l continue to develop my use of non precious materials with silver and base metals, constantly challenging the scale, form and function of each piece, allowing me to continue to push the boundaries in contemporary fine silverware.