Jeweller Dorothy Hogg has won the Brilliantly Birmingham Jewellery Award 05 and the commissioned piece is currently on show in the Creation exhibition at the RBSA in Birmingham.

This prestigious award, now in its second year, was created by the RBSA and sponsored by the Birmingham Assay Office and is awarded to the jeweller who in the opinion of the panel has made the greatest contribution to the world of designer-maker jewellery. After the exhibition the piece of jewellery will join the permanent collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

In year one the award focused on makers in the West Midlands but the 2005 Award was set up as an open competition to makers in the UK.  After being invited to submit images Dorothy was shortlisted and had to submit a written proposal of what she would make along with five pieces of jewellery made in the last five years. 

“It was exciting for me” Dorothy explains “as there are not really any competitions for makers who are no longer students. I wanted to make something for the Birmingham collection which stretched me and was worthy of a museum collection. 

“This piece, and the piece for ‘Hanging in Balance: 42 Contemporary Necklaces’, an international exhibition which has been touring the USA since January this year, are made from units constructed in a mobile and articulated way to allow the piece to flow with the body.”

Dorothy has enjoyed a distinguished career both as an innovative jeweller and as an inspirational educator. In 2001 she was awarded an MBE for services to jewellery and Silversmithing and in 2004 a Personal Chair, Professor of Edinburgh College of Art.

The Creation exhibition is on from 17 November to 24 December at the RBSA Gallery, 4 Brook Street, Jewelley Quarter, Birmingham B3 1SA tel: 0121 236 4353.  Find out more about Brilliantly Birmingham 05 on their website.