Malcolm Appleby | World Master of Engraving

14 April 2020

How the Petal Became

The Green Gold Ginkgo Beaker was designed and engraved in 2019 by Malcolm Appleby – the third in the series of gold engraved beakers. A silver ginkgo beaker was engraved earlier that year. The beaker was hand raised by master smith Peter Musgrove who has worked with Malcolm for over forty years.

Malcolm has planted a number of trees on his land over the years, including the Ginkgo Biloba with it’s unmistakable fan-like leaves. This leaf features prominently in Malcolm’s work as you will see below.

Green Gold Ginkgo Beaker, 2019, 18ct green gold, H10.5 x D6.4 cm, photo: Philippa Swann
Ginkgo Biloba in Malcolm Appleby's garden, photo: Philippa Swann
Green Gold Ginkgo Beaker (detail), 2019, photo: Philippa Swann
Malcolm Appleby at work in his Perthshire studio, January 2020

Engraving the 18ct Green Gold Ginkgo Beaker in 2019 created a lot of clean lemel (limail) - the metal filings or the scrap metal produced from engraving - which I carefully collected and melted down to make a series of jewels with.

Malcolm Appleby, 2020

One of these very jewels is the Parrot Tulip Petal Pendant to which Malcolm added 24ct gold, 18ct white gold, and platinum to the surface by soldering and hammering before engraving. The back of the petal shows the original green gold colour (see below).

Parrot Tulip Petal Pendant (front), 2019, 18ct green gold, 24ct gold, 18ct white gold, platinum, photo: Philippa Swann
Parrot Tulip Petal Pendant (reverse), 2019, 18ct green gold, 24ct gold, 18ct white gold, platinum, photo: Philippa Swann
Malcolm's favourite delicate hammer used for engraving
Malcolm engraving onto a 3D form

Malcolm Appleby’s work is available from only £36 for a button or silver pendant, up to thousands for a unique work. We always hold an affordable and dazzling selection and you can discover jewellery by Malcolm here and silversmithing from Malcolm here. He is a master!

Large, Medium and Small Ginkgo Leaf Brooches, 2020, hand engraved silver with 18ct gold beads, photo: Philippa Swann
Walk in the Woods Necklace, 2019, silver, L30 cm
Ginkgo Leaf Earrings, 2019, silver, 18ct yellow gold posts

Great Scots In Isolation

Over the last few weeks we have brought you Great Scots in Isolation, which is a series of short 1-2 minute films by Scottish Gallery artists from Scotland, the UK and internationally. Here we have an insight into Malcolm’s studio and the creativity taking place during lockdown.

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