Gordon Hamme Author

John L. Davis is an avid collector who - after initially putting together an impressive collection of antique silver boxes - has become fascinated by the breadth of skills and talent of contemporary silversmiths. His drive to develop a significant collection in this field has also been very much motivated by the fact that he enjoys meeting and connecting with the makers of his pieces.  

Gordon Hamme owned a silversmithing supply company in Hatton Garden from 1984, and thus had a very good knowledge of the industry. He and his wife, Angela, developed an impressive collection over the years. From 2008 he curated 95 exhibitions for British Silver Week, for 10 years, featuring the work of over 120 silversmiths across Britain, Europe and Asia. Gordon has written a doctoral thesis on the future development of the contemporary silversmithing industry at the University of Edinburgh and gained his doctorate in 2019. He continues to be involved in the industry as a liveryman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, through the National Association of Jewellers Education Committee, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council as well as the Silver Society.