The graceful sight of a flock of swallows circling outside the window of her Killyleagh workshop inspired young silversmith Samantha Moore to create one of her most popular pieces.
Her Swallow Bowls, which are currently on display in her exquisite new exhibition at Craft NI in Belfast , include an array of delicate birds circling the inside of gold gilded, perfectly round silver cups.
Samantha, from Hillsborough, Co Down, is one of the most sought after silversmiths of her generation.
After she completes her Master’s Degree in Ritual Silver in May, she is off to London as one of the rising stars of British Silver Week to exhibit at the prestigious Pangolin gallery.
But Northern Ireland audiences have the chance to see her work at Craft NI’s exhibition space at its headquarters in Cotton Court in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.
The Semiotics of Silver exhibition is the culmination of two years of painstaking post-graduate research into the use of silver in rituals as diverse as Holy Communion and Japanese tea-drinking ceremonies.
Samantha draws inspiration from drinking rituals both religious and profane in order to explore the idea of crafts and their role in our cultural identity.
Her work often combines precious and semi-precious metals with materials such as wood and wool. Contemporary pieces in the exhibition include distinctive silver teapots, bowls and ornate tea infusers.
The Semiotics of Silver exhibition runs until February 24 at the Craft NI Exhibition Space, Waring Street, Belfast. Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
The next exhibition is Freedom to Think Sculptural by talented glassmaker, Pia Raeymaekers from March 3-23.
For more information on the work of Craft NI and future exhibitions, visit www.craftni.org
Notes to Editors
For more information about Samantha Moore contact Kelly PR on 02893 340275 or 07581282723.
