Making a silver box at The Smiddy

In December I made my way back up to Scotland to teach a two day course in how to make yourself a box, out of recycled silver.

It’s safe to say I’m in love with Banff, and the Smiddy, so I’m always happy to return and spread more silversmithing love to the good scottish people.

Over the two days I taught how to measure, score, fold, solder, file, tidy and more, and at the end of the session the students boxes came to life when they were polished, making them the shinny silver boxes they had hoped to make. Each student went for a different texture, and both exclaimed how lovely and heavy the boxes were to hold. This is something that is important to me - creations need to look good, be functional, AND feel good to hold.

When you make something in silver you are not only helping to raise awareness of the historic craft of silversmithing, but you are creating something which is going to last many lifetimes. So you want that piece to bring joy to all of your sense. And these lovely rectangular boxes do just that.

One of the students had met me during my stint at the Smiddy in the summer, and asked if I still had my silver spoon with me. It was a running joke during the summer that I had taken my own silver spoon up there with me and was regularly using it with my lunch. And I’m very pleased to say I still use it as often as possible; beautiful things should be enjoyed as often as possible and silver is naturally antibacterial so what better material to use for your cutlery!