York School of Art hallmark created in new partnership with Sheffield Assay Office

The opportunity has arisen courtesy of a new partnership with Sheffield Assay Office, leading to the production of a makers’ mark that will see the YSA initials sit alongside four other significant symbols.  

Along with Art & Design Learning Assistant Laura Brown and Curriculum and Standards Manager for Art, Design & Craft Phil Simpson, jewellery and metalsmithing students from York College & University Centre’s BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice and Level 3 Creative Practice courses visited Sheffield to learn more about the importance of hallmarking and the history of the assay office, which acts as an official independent body that tests and verifies the purity of precious metals to protect consumers from counterfeit items.

Along with gaining this insight into a key professional process, our Higher Education and Further Education learners also toured the assay office’s state-of-the-art precious metal testing facilities, viewed their private collection of important silver work and shared their input into the shape and font style of the YSA makers' mark.

The partnership forms part of a wider mission at York College and the York School of Art to promote the value of craft education and preserve traditional craft skills for future generations. 

York School of Art is one of a diminishing number of places in Yorkshire where students can still learn traditional jewellery techniques, making this partnership especially valuable in supporting specialist creative education, with Learning Assistant Laura adding: “Our wider heritage craft drive has also included building connections with leading organisations, including the British Artist Blacksmiths Association, the Guild of Enamellers and the Heritage Crafts Association. 

“These links are helping to strengthen opportunities for students, raise awareness of endangered and specialist craft skills, and support the continued development of craft education at York School of Art.”

Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, highlighted the importance of this work last year when she visited College to discuss craft education, following the addition of Silversmithing and Allied Trades to the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts. 

The Labour and Co-operative Party politician’s visit helped to shine a light on the importance of protecting traditional skills and ensuring that young people continue to have access to high-quality craft education.

Along with the YSA sponsor's mark, other symbols on the York School of Art hallmark that can be incorporated into the precious metal work of all students on relevant courses include numbers to signify the purity or fineness of the metal – for example 925 signifies 92.5% pure silver.

The Yorkshire Rose is also present due to being the Sheffield Assay Office’s mark and the Lion Passant indicates that the metal is sterling silver.

A letter "B", meanwhile, represents the year the metal was hallmarked.

This will ascend in alphabetical order every year until Z is reached and, then, the sequence will change from upper case to lower case, along with the font and symbol shape, with the first ever letter stamp dating back to 1477 in London!

Sara Hale, Head of Commercial Operations at Sheffield Assay Office, added: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with York School of Art to support the next generation of jewellers, silversmiths and designer-makers. Hallmarking is an important part of the history, integrity and legal framework surrounding precious metalwork, and it is vital that students understand both their professional responsibilities and the importance of consumer protection as they begin their careers.

“The introduction of the YSA sponsor’s mark gives students a direct connection to this long-standing tradition whilst also recognising the high standard of creative education taking place at York School of Art. Partnerships like this play an important role in helping to preserve specialist craft skills and ensuring these industries continue to thrive for future generations.”

To learn more about our BA (Hons) 3D Creative Practice course, please click here

For full details on our UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative Practice (3D Design Pathway), visit here 

Information on all our York School of Art courses can be found here

Want to discuss any of our degree, higher-level, vocational, T Level, A Level and adult courses or apprenticeships with our expert team of tutors and check out our state-of-the-art facilities? Then, please come along to our next Open Event. An overview of what to expect and upcoming dates is included here