Romilly Saumarez Smith is a jeweller who, over the past 15 years, through a neurological illness, has lost the use of her hands.
This short film is the story of how she rediscovered and reimagined her creativity.
Amanuensis was chosen, one of 36 out of 300 submissions, to be shown during May 2018 as part of Reel to Real at Picturehouse Central.
“Romilly started her professional life as a bookbinder, a profession that not many women did. Then she started a romance with jewellery and never looked back. With her translators behind her, she creates, as she will say, a hard-edged fairy tale jewellery.”
Be sure to listen to this fascinating interview, full of surprises!
In this fascinating interview with Jessica Cadzow-Collins, Romilly reveals details of her early life and work, and talks about some of the precious objects that have inspired her own jewellery making.
2024
The Allure of the Unconventional Find
Jewellery as Wearable Past
By Ella Mackenzie
Spink Insider 13 December 2024
Click here for a pdf of the article.
2023
Romilly Profile in The New York Times
New York Times International Edition May 27, 2023
For subscribers (or you can subscribe free):
‘Translators’ Help a Jewelry Designer to Keep Creating (online)
Or click here for a pdf of the article.
2020
Romilly Profile in The FT Weekend
Ceramicist and writer Edmund de Waal pays tribute to a fellow artist with a fine eye for discarded objects.
Gathering at Make Hauser & Wirth Somerset Until 13 February 2021
2020
The Design Edit
The Design Edit: For Collectors and Dreamers
2019
My head, their hands – a jeweller’s extraordinary collaboration
Financial Times 11 January 2019
For subscribers: My head, their hands – a jeweller’s extraordinary collaboration
Or click here for a pdf of the article.
2018
Newfoundland Book review
A fine book published by Mile End Press
2016
Rich and Strange
World of Interiors January 2016, page 58
Treasures from a fairy tale land
Crafts Magazine March/April 2016, page 79
Unearthing Gems
Crafts Magazine January/February 2016, page 14
2015
The woman turning ancient buried treasure into jewellery Romilly Saumarez-Smith’s miniature artworks are made from detritus found by mudlarks and metal detectorists that she has snapped up on eBay – and they have the seal of approval of Edmund de Waal. The Guardian 3 December 2015
2012
Double Vision
Crafts Magazine September/October 2012
Statement of Practice
The Journal of Modern Craft
Volume 5 – issue 3, October 2012, pages – 321 – 334
2005
Another Chapter
Crafts Magazine January/February 2005
Woman’s Hour Craft Prize – BBC Radio 4 Interview
Romilly was one of 12 finalists of the Woman’s Hour Craft Prize which was done in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Crafts Council.
Romilly was an acclaimed bookbinder for 25 years until jewellery caught her eye and she retrained by doing some short courses. Corinna Jones went to meet Romilly and her assistant Lucie Gledhill at her home in East London.
