DOUBLE HONOUR – UNIQUE BLACKSMITHING COMMISSION FOR LATE QUEEN ELIZABETH II
PRESS RELEASE JULY 2024
Selected by The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths.
Melissa was asked to design and make a unique gift for the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The hand-drawn design was presented and approved by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022.
A permanent home for the birdbath has now been confirmed in the Volerie Garden of the Little Banqueting House at Hampton Court Palace.
“As a working artist blacksmith, I designed a piece for a garden setting. The scale of this piece could work in any aspect of a garden, lawn or terrace. I was mindful of the Rose Garden at Buckingham Palace that the late queen so enjoyed.
The design embraces traditional & contemporary blacksmithing techniques to create a beautiful piece of decorative ironwork. The Queen approved my design, it was such a shame that she didn’t see the finished piece in situ.“
The Commissioner
The opportunity to showcase 21st Century blacksmithing in a new piece for Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee year was presented to Melissa in 2021 by Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths Past Prime Warden, Jim Cook.
Inspiration
Melissa studied the history of the Livery company’s heritage and its links to Queen Elizabeth I for the first royal charter. Melissa drew upon a personal connection to Queen Elizabeth II, finalising a decorative bird bath design for the royal gardens.
Drawing inspiration from the Queen Elizabeth I brooch of 1574 depicting a phoenix. The decorative lines made by the plumes of smoke in the brooch evolved into evocative swirls at the base of the work.
Traditional Techniques
The use of scrolls is associated with traditional blacksmithing techniques. It connects this piece to the history of the craft and the skills taught to generations of blacksmiths.
The forged lines transition from the horizontal base into the vertical. They depict the flames from the forge and the phoenix’s fire and regeneration.
Seven flowing tail feathers represent seven decades of reign. They transition into the branches of an oak tree which represents our recognisable natural countryside, longevity and strength. The finished piece is 125cm tall.
Suspended within the branches of the oak tree, a bowl of water represents life. Hand-hammered from copper, it has a laser cut stainless steel rim. The filligree rim design features detail taken from the Imperial Crown.
From above the work looks like a rosette. The elliptical shape of the bowl has ribbons. This represents prizes currently given by The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths at county show forging competitions.
There is a personal association from the artist to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As a young girl, Melissa recieved a rosette for riding her pony in front of the Queen at Badminton Horse Trials. She acknowledges in this piece a recognition of the Queens love of horses and showing Fell ponies.
Traditional skills and modern making combined
“It was an honour to be asked to create this prestigious piece of ironwork. I would like to thank the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths for commissioning me.
I am proud of the work the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths does to support and promote our craft.
My thanks also go to HB Designs for helping me with CAD work and Altex Engineering for laser work on the bowl rim.
I have had alot of support from friends and family throughout my blacksmithing career. It is lovely for them to see a piece of this importance among my commissioned works.”
- CAD work; http://www.hbdesigns.co.uk
- CAD and laser cutting: https://altex.co.uk
- Commissioner: www.blacksmithscompany.co.uk
- Photography: https://www.marksomervilleart.net