Jewellery, Objects of Vertu, Silver and Watches

A 9ct gold ‘Boyd’ necklace by David Thomas, 1964, of tapered crossover design, formed of vari-coloured polished bars, with an interchangeable green tourmaline cabochon or cultured pearl drop, maker’s mark, London hallmark, fitted case, length 46cm. £2,000-£3,000

David Thomas was born in Hampton Hill, Middlesex in 1938. His father was an academic but encouraged his son’s artistic ambitions and transferred David to Twickenham School of Art in 1953. He made his first piece of jewellery the same year, and won a Royal Society of Arts bursary enabling him to travel in Europe. David moved to Stockholm to work with W. A. Bolin, the Swedish Crown jewellers and in 1959 was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Art.

David was becoming fascinated by gold and set up his own studio at Hampton Hill, moving to Chelsea in 1965. By this time, interest in his work was becoming international, with exhibitions worldwide, including a one-man show in Australia in 1964 and America in 1967, and exhibiting in the British Pavilion at Expo ’70 Japan.

Most of David Thomas’ jewellery is made on private commission for his clients, espousing his belief that jewellery is an ‘intense personal art form’. However, in 1972 he put his experience to wider use, producing the Atlantis Collection, in association with Prestige Jewellery in London.

David Thomas’ jewels today are to be found in various collections including the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths.