Jewellery by Michael King

The sword talisman made by Michael King for the Rheged film 'The Lost Kingdom"

Michael King, a fellow of the
Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, has been making jewellery in Cumbria since 1982.
A native of Kent, he trained
formally in precious metals, art
and design at the Kent Institute
in Rochester before working for
nearly ten years with the
internationally acclaimed
designer/silversmith Christopher
Lawrence.

Michael King started his own
jewellery business in a barn at his
home at Curthwaite in northern
Cumbria in 1982. In 2001 (?) he opened new premises at nearby West Woodside, on the A595
eight miles SW of Carlisle, providing space for a large new gallery showing a wide range of gold and silver pieces.

During the last 20 years Michael King has completed many important commissions. Among them have been a series of ornate weapons recalling the wonderful workmanship of the early Britons for the film 'The Lost Kingdom', commissioned for the Rheged Centre near Penrith, Cumbria.

He was more recently commissioned to copy the beautiful cross of St Cuthbert, kept in the treasury of Durham Cathedral, for a film about the life of the saint.

Past commissions include a facsimile copy of an ancient crucifix for Queen Elizabeth II, a ceremonial cross for Carlisle Cathedral and a cross and ring for the Bishops of Penrith and of Jarrow.

Wedding and engagement rings and decorative jewellery form a basis of much of Michael King's work.

Celtic art has been a strong influence. Cumbria's relatively unspoiled rural environment was once part of the Celtic kingdom.

Michael King has been fascinated by contrasts of highly polished and granulated, textured surfaces. Some of his pieces are constructed around silver coral, a technique of simulating natural coral by a unique casting process he himself has developed.

Design for a gold and diamond brooch

Silver cross presented to HM Queen Elizabeth II to mark
the 900th anniversary of Carlisle Cathedral in 1988

Cross designed and made for the Bishop of Penrith,
Cumbria. At the centre is a pilgrim's cross made from
a 14th century mould found at Keswick, once a
pilgrimage centre for St Herbert. On the arms of the
cross are four oval haematites mined at
Egremont, Cumbria.

Tiara in sterling silver to an Art Nouveau design