A breathtaking array of talent
London Craft Week is a great opportunity to not only explore some unusual and exciting crafts, but also to drop into places you wouldn’t normally get a chance to visit.
I began with an exploration of the Chapel Royal and Queen's Chapel at St. James' Palace. Sadly photos were not allowed on this tour so you will have to make do with my inadequate descriptions. It was an exciting affair. The Royal Chapel was particularly grand with some very dramatic tapestries of Hannibal crossing the alps. I also enjoyed the golden stained-glass windows. These I did not initially take to, but after a bit of further examination they grew on me, especially when I saw all the commonwealth countries within the glass. The Queen’s chapel was slightly anti-climactic after that, but still a nice visit. I recommend going for a peak if you get a chance, but the colour scheme was not quite my cup of tea. The tour included a look at the vestments worn by the clerics and we got to hear about detailed embroidery of such robes. The gold thread and intricate patterns are very pretty, but the celibacy thing means joining the church as a priest is still not on my to-do list.
From the Palace I moved on to visit Vacheron Constantin, the oldest watch maker in the world, with an unbroken history of manufacturing of watches dating back over 250 years. I entered the boutique and got to experience the process of engraving. I have to admit I was initially a bit sceptical and thought I would be looking at something akin to inscribing the name on a dog collar. I was astounded by what I actually got to witness. It was the most incredibly carving of a stunning watch face celebrating the first balloon flights across France. The finished products, which I then got to inspect and even wear, were just breath-taking. It was nice to briefly get the chance to wear the value of a small flat on my wrist. After their charming hospitality and gorgeous products, I shall certainly be returning as a buyer in the near future…once I win Euro millions.
Right: The finished £135K product on my wrist. Left: The enamel in the material half crafted.
Finally, I spent the afternoon visiting the Natural History museum and going on a tour of their gemstones which included at look at the natural stones and their use in jewellery. The tour was probably the least well organised part of my day out, but the guides were enthusiastic and the gems very interesting. You should definitely pop by and give the exhibits a look if you have not seen the natural history museum’s gemstone holdings.
Above: A selection of stunning blue opals in the museum collection. Right: Emeralds in the Natural History Museum.
Sadly, being rather busy I did not get a chance to go to much else for craft week. But I did pop back to Vacheron Constantin to see a demonstration on watch repair which was fascinating. I was very chuffed when they let me have a go at unscrewing the pieces of the watch (see below). I can't wait to take part in Craft week next year, it was wonderful to get to marvel at these tremendous crafting talents…they leave me with quite the sense of inadequacy at my own artistic aptitude.
I look quite the part as a watchmaker...perhaps a new career awaits...