Canada’s jewellery designers are a great embodiment of the creativity of the Great North. Their work is inspired by the art and culture of the region. Canadian artists are creating pieces of handmade modernist jewellery. The designs are full of bravado and maximalist energy.
Canada’s jewellery community is fragmented and its members are scattered throughout the country. However, the jewellery industry has gained important international attention. International jewellery designers have been invited to exhibit their works in Canada. They have demonstrated various techniques such as die-forming, electroforming, and the incorporation of acrylic materials. This has led to a new era of Canadian jewellery.
The 1970s saw the emergence of new craft galleries and jewellery studios across the country. Montreal was a cultural centre of the country and became one of the most fashionable cities. Many international jewelers arrived in Canada to show their work. Spanish-born Walter Schleup, for example, contributed to a golden age of jewellery design in Montreal. Other prominent jewelers were Reeve Perkins, Orland Larson, and Bill Reid.
Canadian jewellers have been able to achieve international recognition by producing fine, handmade modernist pieces. But the Canadian jewellery community must work hard to raise national and international awareness. Its members must also be committed to promoting the industry through vigorous and effective efforts to obtain financial support from the private sector. Moreover, the get more info community must overcome counterproductive squabbles that limit objective critical evaluation of its activities.
The Canadian Jewellers Association was established in 1918 to represent the industry to the government. Today, the association represents jewellery manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as retailers. In order to further promote the trade, the Canadian Jewellers Association publishes the magazine Jewelry World. Another industry publication, the Canadian Gemmological Association, is also available. Both organizations offer educational courses to aspiring jewellers.
During the 19th century, there were about 2000 firms involved in the production of jewellery. However, the number was reduced in the early 20th century due to government intervention in the jewellery industry. Government intervention started with the introduction of a 5% excise tax on jewellery in 1918. This was followed by a 12% sales tax. Thereafter, the government introduced the Precious Metals Marking Act, which imposed strict quality standards for the use of precious metals in jewellery.
Nevertheless, the jewellery trade was a growing and thriving industry in the 1960s. Quebec had made great progress in the field, with the influx of European and Belgian emigrants. In addition to the influx of newcomers, the government was one of the first countries to implement metric conversion, which made the industry more accurate and efficient.
Since the late 1970s, the jewellery community has experienced a revival. Several major jewellery studios were opened in the city, and several prominent jewellery designers were hired to teach at the various college and university programmes. Monica Harhay established Studio Jewellers in Toronto and Harhay-McKay Jewellers in the Bloor Street district.
However, the jewellery community has been subject to a variety of internal and external barriers. For example, there have been questions of cultural appropriation and issues of commodity.