Fairies on a bedspread, a forged silver spoon, a fig tree etched on glass with hydrofluoric acid, and a bracelet made from links - these and more were the award-winning pieces in the RDS National Crafts Competition, which went on view at Dublin's Farmleigh Gallery this week.
The works were on display earlier this year at the during the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show, which was visited by 80,000 people.
Almost from the foundation of the RDS years ago, we have been involved in crafts," said Austin Mescal, RDS president, opened the exhibition at Farmleigh Gallery in the Phoenix Park.
Jerome McCann, a Belfast-based silversmith, won the top award for his sterling silver bracelet. He was at the opening with his father, heating engineer Brian McCann.
, a Belfast-based silversmith, won the top award for his sterling silver bracelet. He was at the opening with his father, heating engineer
Brian McCann
.
Helena Malone, of Ballytegan in Co Laois, who gave up a career as a financier to pursue her love of jewellery design, won first prize in the gold, silver and other precious metals category for her spoon, which is "hammered out from one piece of metal".
, of Ballytegan in Co Laois, who gave up a career as a financier to pursue her love of jewellery design, won first prize in the gold, silver and other precious metals category for her spoon, which is "hammered out from one piece of metal".
"It's the best move I ever made in my life . . . I'm doing something that I adore," she said.
Malone's friends, Helen O'Halloran and Gina O'Grady, were with her at the opening.
Winner of first prize in the glass category was Sandra Miley, whose Fig Tree is a sheet of antique blue flash glass with an image etched with acid.
Martin Lanigan's sideboard, walnut and beech, was motion of a single wave. "The simple curve repeats design," said Lanigan, from Thurles, Co Tipperary.
sideboard, walnut and beech, was motion of a single wave. "The simple curve repeats design," said Lanigan, from Thurles, Co Tipperary.
• The RDS National Crafts Winners Exhibition 2006 runs Gallery, Dublin, until Sun, Sept Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, 29 to Sat, Oct 21; and at Flowerfield Centre, Portstewart, Co Down, 29 to Fri, Nov 24