Famous Goldsmiths

​Here are some of the most famous goldsmiths in the world.

​1. Andrien Vachette

​Andrien Vachette was an illustrious French goldsmith who was the personal jeweler of Louis XVIII. He created gold boxes, jewelry pieces and other precious items for the king. One of Vachette's signature designs was jewelry with tortoiseshell incorporated in it. He loved adding natural materials into his designs which at that time was not practiced by any other goldsmith. 

​2. Paul Storr

​Paul Storr is one of the prominent goldsmiths of the British Regency era who created stunning Neoclassical style jewelry and ornate pieces. His work was appreciated by the royalty with King George III and King George IV being some of the notable purchasers of his art. Storr's pieces are displayed today in Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

​3. Jean-Valentin Morel

Learning the craft from Andrien Vachette, Jean-Valentin Morel became a master of goldsmithing recognized in the entire France. After the apprenticeship, he opened his business in 1818 dealing in stone cups, inlay patterns and later embossed products.

​Morel's most successful project was the shop Morel & Cie which he founded in collaboration with silversmith Henri Duponchel. They created vases, jewelry, table silverware, and precious trinkets that were purchased by Pope Gregory XVI, the King of Sardinia, and William III of the Netherlands. 

​4. Jean Paul Miller

Jean Paul Miller was a remarkable 20th-century goldsmith and jeweler originated from the United States. He completed the Cleveland School of Art where he studied enameling and granulation, which involved placing tiny beads of precious metal on gold surface without using the solder.

​His fine works inspired by the natural world are displayed in the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Yale University. 

​5. Jocelyn Burton 

Jacelyn Burton was the first woman to become part of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, which for seven centuries had been dominated exclusively by men. The British goldsmith has received the De Beers International Award in 1967 and the United Kingdom Jeweller Award in 1995.

​Her work was inspired by nature subjects and evoked emotion, elegance, and femininity, which helped her stand out from men's work. While she was mainly focused on jewelry, she also made architectural lighting, tableware, and flatware. 

​6. Jo Hayes Ward

​Jo Hayes Ward is easily recognized by her unique jewelry built around intricate 3D patterns. She positions differently shaped blocks or facets close to or on top of each other, so the light is reflected off the golden surface. She creates the design digitally, then 3D prints it in wax to later cast it in gold. 

​7. Ellis Mhairi Cameron 

A recent winner of the UK Jewellery Awards, Ellis Mhairi Cameron is one of the most promising and notable contemporary goldsmiths and jewelry designers. She takes her inspiration from the rough terrain of her native Scotland creating stunningly organic pieces that are shaped like shards and evoke strong relation to wild nature.