The Society of American Silversmiths (SAS) is an American arts organization, founded in April 1989 and headquartered in Rhode Island. It is the nation's only professional organization devoted solely to the preservation and promotion of contemporary

silversmithing A silversmith is a metalworker who crafts objects from silver. The terms ''silversmith'' and ''goldsmith'' are not exactly synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product may vary great ...

About

In addition to an outstanding benefits package, all members have access to the Society's technical and marketing expertise through its free consulting service to members. Its

artisan An artisan (from french: artisan, it, artigiano) is a skilled craft worker who makes or creates material objects partly or entirely by hand. These objects may be functional or strictly decorative, for example furniture, decorative art ...

members, those

silversmith A silversmith is a metalworker who crafts objects from silver. The terms ''silversmith'' and ''goldsmith'' are not exactly synonyms as the techniques, training, history, and guilds are or were largely the same but the end product may vary great ...

s who have been juried into the society based on their outstanding technical skill, and are provided with support, networking, and greater access to the market. The SAS Artisan member archive contains a maker's mark registry, over 1,400 slides and 400 photographs, and a resume for each artisan member. They have also offered silversmith classes and an apprenticeship program. Through SAS, the public has access to a unique referral service that commissions silver

holloware Holloware (hollowware, or hollow-ware ) is metal tableware such as sugar bowls, creamers, coffee pots, teapots, soup tureens, hot food covers, water jugs, platters, butter pat plates, and other items that accompany dishware on a table. It does ...

, flatware, and sculpture from its artisans.

History

Jeffrey Herman Jeffrey Marc "Jeff" Herman (born 1959) is an American trial lawyer who specializes in representing victims of sexual abuse, and has been described as a " p church sex abuse attorney". He is the founding and managing partner of the South Florid ...

is the founder of the Society of American Silversmiths. The SAS offered the ''Hans Christensen Sterling Silversmith's Award'' until 2006, a lifetime achievement award in silversmithing. The award was named after

Hans Christensen Hans Christensen (7 June 1906 – 17 May 1992) was a Danish footballer. He played in one match for the Denmark national football team The Denmark men's national football team ( da, Danmarks herre-fodboldlandshold or ''herrelandsholdet'' ...

(1924–1983), a metalsmith and a former professor at

Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private university, private research university in the town of Henrietta, New York, Henrietta in the Rochester, New York, metropolitan area. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree ...

(RIT). In 2012, the SAS had 48 members.

Notable people

* Henry Petzal *

John Prip John Axel Prip, also known as Jack Prip (1922–2009), was an American master metalsmith, industrial designer, and educator. He was known for setting standards of excellence in American metalsmithing. His works and designs have become famous for ...

* Heikki Seppä * Brooke Marks Swanson *

Linda Threadgill Linda Threadgill (born 1947) is an American artist whose primary emphasis is metalsmithing. Her metal work is inspired by forms of nature and the interpretations she gleans from the intricate patterns it presents. She explores the foundation of nat ...

* Valentin Yotkov

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.silversmithing.com/ American silversmiths Professional associations based in the United States 1989 establishments in Rhode Island