'At the Sign of the Falcon: The Life and Works of Harry Murphy - with John Benjamin’

Name: 'At the Sign of the Falcon: The Life and Works of Harry Murphy - with John Benjamin’
Start: 2026-01-14T14:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-01-14T15:30:00+00:00
Location: Wadebridge Town Hall, Wadebridge

Schedule

Wed Jan 14 2026 at 02:00 pm to 03:30 pm

UTC+00:00

Location

Wadebridge Town Hall, Wadebridge | Wadebridge, EN

Not long until the next in the Winter series of excellent talks!
Wednesday 14 January, 'At the Sign of the Falcon: The Life and Works of Harry Murphy - Goldsmith, Silversmith and Unique Englishman' with John Benjamin.
H G Murphy’s greatest misfortune was to die just before the start of the Second World War. The designs and inspirations of the pre-war era were simply seen as passé and totally out of keeping with the new spirit of modernism which quickly grew after the Festival of Britain in 1951. Harry Murphy served his apprenticeship under Henry Wilson, probably Britain’s greatest designer goldsmith of the Arts and Crafts era. Here he learnt a wide range of skills and techniques including enamelling, gem-setting and polishing, niello, engraving and hammering. We will be dazzled by the art treasures we will discover from this forgotten master goldsmith.
John Benjamin is a jewelry historian, lecturer, author and broadcaster. Formerly International Director of Jewelry at Phillips Fine Art Auctioneers, since 1999 he has been an independent jewelry consultant on behalf of the private client network. John is well-known from his appearances over 30 years on BBC Television’s ever-popular Antiques Roadshow. He is a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company, a Court Assistant and Founder Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars and in 2021 was appointed Honorary Jewelry Adviser to the National Trust.
Venue: Wadebridge Town Hall - Doors open at 2.00 pm, lecture commences at 2.30 pm.
Why not come as a guest for a first, trial meeting? Otherwise free for Society Members or £10 on the door.