Silversmith crafts Jubilee gift for the Queen
The Queen will be presented with a Diamond Jubilee gift made by a talented young graduate of the University for the Creative Arts (UCA).
Miriam Hanid, who graduated from BA (Hons) Three Dimensional Design at UCA Farnham in 2007, was commissioned by the Drapers' Company to create a silver badge for a hunting stick which will be gifted to the monarch.
Miriam Hanid, who is 26 and from Lowestoft in Suffolk, said: "It's an absolute privilege to make something for the Queen and extra special for it to be presented to her on such an important occasion.
"It felt like a big responsibility to know that the piece was going to be presented to the Queen - I kept on thinking about her as I was hammering away and wanted every detail to be absolutely perfect."
She is following in the footsteps of her great-grandfather who created handmade silver gifts for Queen Elizabeth II during her first year as monarch.
Wali Mohamed crafted a silver-mounted ostrich egg teapot, and an ivory gong and striker, which was presented to the Queen during a visit to Kenya in 1952.
"I didn't originally know who my commission was for, so it was a great surprise when I was told it was for the Queen," Miriam explained. "It felt really special to be following in my great-grandfather's footsteps and continuing our family's tradition with craft in such a major way. I had the feeling that I'd gone back to my roots and that this piece was always meant to be."
Miriam's royal commission features a silver engraved band showing pheasants flying over a river bed of reeds and rushes. It will be mounted on a rams-horn handled stick which will be used by the Queen on hunting trips.
"The nature of the design makes it feel like a practical gift rather than ceremonial one, so hopefully it will be something she'll actually use during her hunting trips in Scotland," she added.
Since leaving UCA, Miriam has exhibited work at the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Saatchi Gallery in London, and an example of her work is kept in the permanent collection at the National Museum of Wales.
She keeps close links with UCA and regularly hosts masterclasses for students; in April, she returned to Farnham give a special lesson in 'chasing,' her signature technique.
Miriam said: "The courses at UCA encourage students to look at craft as an art form, rather than simply learning skills and techniques to make certain objects.
"I was always quite outlandish with my techniques but my creativity wasn't mocked or stifled like it could have been at some colleges, the tutors encouraged me to try new things and create my own unique style, which has certainly helped get me to where I am today."
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
