Stuart Devlin
Encyclopedia
Stuart Devlin is a significant contemporary gold and silversmith. Australia
n-born, he has designed coins for countries around the world, and became especially well known as London
-based designer of gold and silver collector's items in the 1970s and 80s.
Devlin was born in Geelong, Australia
, and become an art teacher, specializing in gold and silversmithing. In 1957 he obtained a post at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
and studied for a Diploma of Art in gold and silversmithing. He was awarded scholarships to study at the Royal College of Art
in London in 1958, and was awarded a Harkness Fellowship
by the Commonwealth Fund
. He spent the two-year fellowship at Columbia University
, United States
.
He returned to teach in Melbourne, Australia, in 1962 and subsequently became an inspector of art schools. He rose to fame when, in 1964, he won a competition to design the first decimal coinage for Australia
.
In 1965, he moved to London
and opened a small workshop. This marked the beginning of Devlin's own style, which often took the form of limited editions, the most popular being Easter eggs and Christmas boxes, now collectors' items. He adapted and devised new techniques to produce a wide variety of textures and filigree forms, and became well known in London's West End
, producing a new collection each year. He had a prestigious showroom in Conduit Street 1979–1985.
In 1966 a Stuart Devlin fine silver sculpture was commissioned by Ford of Britain
to celebrate the release of the new Mk IV Ford Zephyr
& Zodiac
range of motor vehicles.
He has designed furniture, interiors, jewellery, and commissioned pieces of all types, including trophies, clocks, centrepieces, goblets, candelabra, bowls, and insignia. Among his most popular commissions, Devlin has designed coins and medals for 36 countries throughout the world, including precious coins for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the medals for the founding awards of the Australian honours system in 1975: the Order of Australia
, the Australian Bravery Decorations and the National Medal.
In 1982, Devlin was granted the Royal Warrant
of Appointment as Goldsmith and Jeweller to Her Majesty the Queen
. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmith's Company
1996-97.
Although he is no longer Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths he continues to work with the company (as well as taking various commissions) and is particularly involved in the developing of a new institute for future Goldsmiths, and also with various other aspects which involve opportunities for up and coming Jewellers and Goldsmiths including a summer school and 'getting started' course.
Having closed his London workshop, he now works in Littlehampton
, West Sussex
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n-born, he has designed coins for countries around the world, and became especially well known as London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
-based designer of gold and silver collector's items in the 1970s and 80s.
Devlin was born in Geelong, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and become an art teacher, specializing in gold and silversmithing. In 1957 he obtained a post at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
and studied for a Diploma of Art in gold and silversmithing. He was awarded scholarships to study at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
in London in 1958, and was awarded a Harkness Fellowship
Harkness Fellowship
The Harkness Fellowships are a programme run by the Commonwealth Fund of New York City. They were established to reciprocate the Rhodes Scholarships and enable Fellows from several countries to spend time studying in the United States...
by the Commonwealth Fund
Commonwealth Fund
The Commonwealth Fund is a private U.S. foundation whose stated purpose is to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, especially for society's most vulnerable.-History:...
. He spent the two-year fellowship at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
He returned to teach in Melbourne, Australia, in 1962 and subsequently became an inspector of art schools. He rose to fame when, in 1964, he won a competition to design the first decimal coinage for Australia
Coins of the Australian dollar
Coins of the Australian dollar were introduced on 14 February 1966, although they did not at that time include a one-dollar coin. The dollar was equivalent in value to 10 shillings in the former currency .- Regular coinage :...
.
In 1965, he moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and opened a small workshop. This marked the beginning of Devlin's own style, which often took the form of limited editions, the most popular being Easter eggs and Christmas boxes, now collectors' items. He adapted and devised new techniques to produce a wide variety of textures and filigree forms, and became well known in London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, producing a new collection each year. He had a prestigious showroom in Conduit Street 1979–1985.
In 1966 a Stuart Devlin fine silver sculpture was commissioned by Ford of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to celebrate the release of the new Mk IV Ford Zephyr
Zephyr
Zephyr may refer to:* A light or west wind* Zephyrus, one of the Anemoi and the Greek god of the west wind* Zephyranthes, a plant genus whose species include the zephyr lily* Zephyr , a well-known graffiti artist from New York City...
& Zodiac
Zodiac
In astronomy, the zodiac is a circle of twelve 30° divisions of celestial longitude which are centred upon the ecliptic: the apparent path of the Sun across the celestial sphere over the course of the year...
range of motor vehicles.
He has designed furniture, interiors, jewellery, and commissioned pieces of all types, including trophies, clocks, centrepieces, goblets, candelabra, bowls, and insignia. Among his most popular commissions, Devlin has designed coins and medals for 36 countries throughout the world, including precious coins for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the medals for the founding awards of the Australian honours system in 1975: the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, the Australian Bravery Decorations and the National Medal.
In 1982, Devlin was granted the Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
of Appointment as Goldsmith and Jeweller to Her Majesty the Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. He was Prime Warden of the Goldsmith's Company
Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths
The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Company, which has origins in the twelfth century, received a Royal Charter in 1327. It ranks fifth in the order of precedence of Livery Companies. Its motto is Justitia Virtutum Regina, Latin for Justice...
1996-97.
Although he is no longer Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths he continues to work with the company (as well as taking various commissions) and is particularly involved in the developing of a new institute for future Goldsmiths, and also with various other aspects which involve opportunities for up and coming Jewellers and Goldsmiths including a summer school and 'getting started' course.
Having closed his London workshop, he now works in Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
.