ACE’s crowning glory

I’ve had a very productive February this year, and finally finished two Eisteddfod crowns.

I was first commissioned to make the Urdd Eisteddfod Denbigh 2020 Crown in 2018 – well in advance. I designed quite a complicated piece, with lots of elements, it’s taken quite a long time to make. The eisteddfod was sadly pandemic delayed, but the crown is now ready – I will show more on this in the next newsletter/blog.

Meanwhile, at the start of this February I was asked to design and make the Crown for the Bangor University Inter-College Eisteddfod. I love designing and making crowns, and even though the timescale was very short for such a prestigious job – a month before the actual eisteddfod – I couldn’t resist the challenge. I was just finishing the urdd crown, I was in the swing of it, and so with an idea already up my sleeve I agreed. This would be my 8th crown, that is including one I made in college which was made of card only, and one I made for a private client who saw one of my eisteddfodd crowns and wanted one for personal use – I love that idea- a crown for all occasions!

The criteria for a crown in my opinion is to look noble, dignified and elegant. Practically a crown always needs to be adjustable unless the recipient is known and it can then be made to their specific size. This is never the case in an Eisteddfod where it is the outright winner of the competition that receives the grand accolade of wearing The Crown, and this is top secret until the announcement on stage at the crowning ceremony – it’s very exciting! The idea is that there is a secret fitting made hours before the ceremony with the winner, so that the final adjustment can be made then.

My Crown for Bangor University is made of Iron and Copper with brass detail and a velvet white cap. You may recognise the iron pattern as I have used the same technique for a range of jewellery over the last 10 years or so.

The iron is bent and formed into an undulating pattern and delicately and gradually forged from the middle outwards. It gently flares out at the top and has hints of brass creating a golden hue. This part was made in my forge Yr Efail in Parc Glynllifon where I have been working now for 31 years. After a little experimenting to get the height and density of the twists right, this part was finished and brought to my new jewellery studio above Siop iard where the next stage took place. The adjustable band of copper was cut to shape at the bench, tiny holes drilled and slots pierced with a jeweller’s saw.

It was filed, sanded, and engraved with the title. Finally the copper is mirror polished and lacquered showing its beautiful rich true colour. Meanwhile, at home I cut and stitched the velvet bonnet which covers the wearer’s ‘dignity’ as they say, every Eisteddfod Crown has this to cover the top of the head. It’s a good idea. It’s also adjustable.