How to Commission Handmade Jewellery & Silverware
One of the privileges of being an independent designer-maker is the ability to offer a bespoke service, working with customers to create unique pieces which really can express their individuality. Making jewellery and silverware to commission is a rewarding process, both for the client & the maker.
Spending time to talk and develop concepts with the customer, is when you’re able to gather little snippets of information which a talented maker is then able to weave together and embed into the design.
Sometimes clients come with lots of their own ideas and a clear plan of what they would like, whereas others are less sure. It doesn’t really matter if you fall into the latter group as I will be able to help guide you to a unique outcome, which hopefully, will become a future heirloom you’ll be proud of.
Perhaps though, the piece you’re commissioning is a gift, destined for a family member, partner or good friend. It can be tricky dreaming up a design for another person; the more details you can provide about their personal taste, style and preferences at home will all help to develop and focus a truly personalised and singly beautiful final design.
If you are really struggling to either start the ball rolling, or are unable to provide many personal details to inform a design, then this post is here to help guide you. Whether you’re thinking of getting in contact with myself or any other maker, I hope you find this useful.
A good place to start is to have a browse of the makers’ portfolio, to gauge their style & skills. I’d recommend heading to their website to view their most up to date & complete catalogue, or perhaps look at their recent Instagram/Facebook/Pinterest posts.
I have a ‘collections’ section on my website, as well as my commissions page, both of which will give you a great understanding of the current scope and style of my work.
Every maker has a different set of skills & expertise in particular areas. Not every jeweller works with stones or precious metals and some don’t work to commission, so it’s worth doing a little research to find out whether they’re likely to be well placed to work with you.
During your browsing, when you find images of pieces that catch your eye or have elements that you’re interested in, keep them safe somewhere as you go along. Think of it as keeping a visual mood-board for the maker, something to help them grasp the feeling of what you’re after.If you’re a Pinterest user, creating a board to save them is really handy. If not, simply take screenshots and keep them in a folder all together. It’s worth noting, I will never copy an item of jewellery someone else has made, but will be happy to use it as a source of inspiration as a basis for your bespoke design.
When you’ve explored enough, the next step would be for you to consider a few of these questions:
- What type of occasion will it be for? Does this need to be reflected in the piece?
- Are you after something that can be worn everyday, or just on special events? This can help guide whether it needs to be more of a statement piece.
- Are you drawn to petite, delicate pieces, or do you prefer adventurous & bold?
- What is your budget?
- Is there a deadline to complete your design for? Make sure that you are approaching the maker with plenty of time before the piece needs to be finished – Ideally, I’m talking months! Many people underestimate how long it can take to design, confirm, make, hallmark and deliver handmade commissions, especially at busy times of the year (from September onwards many jewellers & silversmiths are extremely in-demand leading up to Christmas).
Now, it’s time to make an appointment or start an online conversation. If you’re in the South Yorkshire area and would like a face-to-face consultation in the workshop, these can be booked via email. Alternatively, I’m happy to use zoom/face-time or a simple phone call or email exchange, whatever suits you.
An initial ‘pilot’ sketch for starting the design process will be provided free of charge and sometimes this is all you’ll need to confirm the project. If you’d like more detailed design drawings or artists’ impressions, then you need to expect to pay for these, as it’s very time-consuming, technical work.
Finally, my top tip is to have patience! Know that you can’t rush handmade, it’ll be worth the wait. When you receive your piece, many makers really appreciate your feedback. It’s sometimes hard for us to work out whether we’ve hit the spot, and we want to know that the customer is happy. In the rare event that you’re not completely happy with the result, I urge you to say so. since you’ve often invested a lot of money in it, it’s not unreasonable to ask for an adjustment. As I’m sure you’re aware, when commissioning a bespoke piece of work from an artist, they are spending a huge amount of time creating something totally unique just for you, which can’t ultimately be sold to another customer if you suddenly decide it’s not what you want, or decide to start again from scratch.
The process of commissioning a handmade piece adds so much meaning to the finished item. Whenever you’re asked about it, you have a lovely story to tell about how it stemmed from your own inspirations, experiences and emotions.
So, why not get planning your next special piece! I hope that when equipped with this information, you’ll be far better prepared for the process of commissioning a beautiful handmade piece which will become something to truly treasure.
You can send an email to me at info@hollysuzannaclifford.com with any ideas or enquiries.
