Bradley’s presents Arts and Crafts collection at York Art Gallery Event

Independent jewellery business Bradley’s Jewellers York has collaborated with York Art Gallery to present its Arts and Crafts Collection at a special private viewing of “The Art of Wallpaper: Morris & Co. – a new exhibition exploring the archives of esteemed British textile designer, William Morris (1834-1896)”.

The exclusive range is inspired by the British Arts and Crafts design movement (c. 1860-1920) and pays contemporary homage to its signature floral motifs through marquise-shaped sapphires and rubies, round brilliant-cut yellow sapphires, natural diamonds and hand-painted enamel.

Guided by her interest in Morris and his textile designs, Bradley’s Jewellers York owner Kay Bradley discovered the London-born visionary’s links to North Yorkshire-based stately home, Castle Howard, which currently plays host to a Bradley’s Jewellers fine jewellery and silverware concession.

The 9th Earl of Carlisle and his wife, the Countess Rosalind Howard, met Morris in the 1860s and were enthusiastic about the Arts and Crafts movement. They admired his designs and became friends with both Morris and his wife, Jane Burden.

Encouraged by this discovery, Bradley began to dive deeper into Arts and Crafts and found inspiration in its ties to nature (a recurring motif in Bradley’s Jewellers York’s own-brand collections), its focus on British craftsmanship, which she continues to champion through the ‘Created in the UK’ hallmarking initiative, and its connection to the women’s suffrage movement and female empowerment.

Highlights include the Lily of the Valley Signature Pendant in sterling silver with marquise-cut rubies, one round brilliant-cut diamond and hand-painted cold enamelled petals (£1,195); the Hyacinth Signature Floral Heart Pendant in sterling silver with marquise-cut rubies and sapphires, round brilliant-cut diamonds and yellow sapphires, plus cold enamelling (£1,950), and the Iris suite of pieces, including a ring, lapel pin, brooch, small and large pendant and earrings with marquise-cut blue sapphires, round brilliant-cut yellow sapphires and cold enamelling in sterling silver (£1,250- £1,595).

All pieces are presented in sterling silver to respect the “modest principles” of Arts and Crafts, although 9ct and 18ct gold versions are available to customers upon request as bespoke commissions.

The entire collection is created in the UK and bears the bespoke ‘A&C’ logo that’s exclusive to Bradley’s Jewellers York as a symbol of authenticity and originality.

At York Art Gallery, Bradley also showcased her “best-selling” in-house collections, such as York Daffodil and Daisy, which are similarly produced in the UK to high standards.

The one-night-only event on 19 November 2024 welcomed patrons of the York Museums Trust, VIP guests from York Theatre Royal, and social media influencers to York Art Gallery to explore the exhibition and browse fine jewellery in the Arts & Crafts Collection.

The evening concluded with a special prize draw in which two lucky visitors walked away with a Hyacinth Signature Floral Heart pendant and chain with enamel details worth £170 and a Rainbow cabochon gemstone brooch in sterling silver, worth £395, respectively.

Bradley said: “The Arts and Crafts Collection was launched in 2023 to celebrate my lifelong love of William Morris’ textiles and patterns. When York Art Gallery approached me for this VIP evening, I couldn’t imagine a better location to showcase these jewellery creations than surrounded by genuine Morris & Co. fabrications, prints and textiles. I would urge anyone with a passion for interiors, British art and culture to visit the exhibition before it’s too late.

“Being able to translate the historic Arts and Crafts movement and the floral patterns of William Morris into a contemporary collection of my own is a dream come true. What made this design era so special was its focus on craftsmanship, artistry and natural themes, which are things that really align with my own principles and design style. The timing of this new exhibition at York Art Gallery could not be more fortuitous, and I am thrilled to collaborate and celebrate this chapter in design history.”