Séamus Gill

Harnessing a hammer

• Séamus is one of Ireland’s leading silversmiths
• He uses skills passed down through the generations
• He is both a craftsperson and designer

One of only a handful of silversmiths remaining in Ireland, Séamus Gill is a master of his craft. He creates exceptional pieces of silversmithing, as well as a range of sculptural silver and gold jewellery. Additionally, Séamus works in bronze, translating the skills of silversmithing to larger scale sculptural works. Using bronze with a high copper content and working qualities close to silver he is able to use his silversmithing skills to form the bronze in a unique way. He introduces colour into the work using patinas, mixing these muted tones with highly polished surfaces and gold plating. His pieces are highly accomplished; years of working at the hammer and anvil clearly evident.

Interview

©Michelangelo Foundation

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When did you decide to pick up this craft?

When I was at Grennan Mill Craft School, there was the moment when Peter Donovan demonstrated traditional silversmithing, raising a bowl from a sheet of copper. We watched in awe, as he coaxed the copper over the anvil with hundreds of hammer blows.

What was the first object you made?

After Peter’s demonstration I made a copper bowl. As it had been passed down to him, Peter passed on the skill to me. 40 years on, my work is still a development of traditional silversmithing; moving a flat sheet into shape using a hammer and anvil.

How did you learn your craft?

Through training at different art colleges over seven years. Also learning from masters like Michael Good and Charles Lewton-Brain, who had a great influence on my work. And of course, practice helped me hone my skills over time.

What is special about silver?

Silver is an amazing material to work with, soft enough to be moved under the force of a hammer yet rigid enough to hold a fixed form. It has almost magical qualities; it can be both stretched and compressed according to the craftsperson’s will.

Séamus Gill is a master artisan: he began his career in 1988 and he started teaching in 2000

Works

©Vincent O'Byrne

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