Internationally recognised Wiltshire blacksmith, Melissa Cole, was been chosen by The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths to make a unique gift for Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate and commemorate the Platinum Jubilee. Last week, on Wednesday 4 December it was unveiled in its permanent position in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace.
The design was presented and approved by Queen Elizabeth II in June 2022 and a permanent home for the sculpture was selected in the Volerie Garden of Little Banqueting House near Barge Walk at Hampton Court Palace.
The official unveiling of the birdbath was on 4th December 2024, the ribbon was cut by The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor Alderman Alistair King DL who was apprenticed to the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths aged 14. He was attended by current Prime Warden Mark Abraham and Renter Warden Colonel Jane Davis OBE OStJ QVRM TD DL and several guests of the company along with Historic Royal Palaces staff.
A great honour for Bottlesford-based Melissa Cole, who acknowledged what had achieved: “As a working artist blacksmith, I designed a piece that would work in a garden setting and that was of a scale that could work in any room of a garden, lawn or terrace. Contemporary blacksmiths often produce bespoke decorative garden pieces in place of gates and railings as this area of work is more fitting to the current times. I wanted this commission to reflect the work of a modern blacksmith whilst drawing upon historic design influences and using traditional forging techniques. The design of the bird bath enables the use of contemporary techniques available to me to create beautiful decorative ironwork. Although the Queen, herself, approved the design I am saddened that she was unable to see the finished work as it represents so many things of personal importance to her.”
The opportunity to showcase 21st Century blacksmithing in a new piece of decorative ironwork for Queen Elizabeth II was presented to Melissa in 2021 as an idea from the then Prime Warden, Jim Cook.
With an extensive brief to design a new piece of work to commemorate the 450th year since the granting of the first Royal Charter to The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in 1571, Melissa studied the history surrounding the Livery company’s heritage and their links to Queen Elizabeth I and her own connection to Queen Elizabeth II before finalising a decorative birdbath for the royal gardens.
Drawing inspiration from the Queen Elizabeth I brooch of 1574 depicting the phoenix, the decorative forms made by the plumes of smoke in the sliver brooch evolved into evocative swirls to form the base of the work.
The use of historic scroll forms is associated with traditional blacksmithing and connects this piece to the history of the craft and the skills taught to generations of blacksmiths. It also depicts the roots of the oak tree and gives this free-standing piece solidity and balance.
As the forged lines transition from the horizontal base to the vertical, they depict the flames from both the forge and the phoenix’s fire as the phoenix regenerates from the ashes with seven tail feathers representing seven decades of reign flowing upwards as the flames transition into the branches of an oak tree which represents our recognisable natural countryside, longevity and strength. The finished piece is 125cm tall.
Suspended within the branches of the oak tree, the bowl of water represents life and is formed from copper with a laser cut stainless steel rim with filigree design details taken from the Imperial Crown.
From above the work looks like a rosette, the elliptical shape of the bowl with ribbons also represents prizes given now by The Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths at county show forging competitions and to horses and riders in equestrian competitions and events. There is also a personal association from the artist to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a recognition of her love of horses and showing Fell ponies.
Melissa noted: “This piece was an honour for me to have been asked to create, I am proud of the work the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths does to promote our craft. I would like to thank the company for asking me to make it and to thank HB Designs for helping me with CAD work and Altex Engineering for laser cutting and etching the bowl rim. I have always had the support of friends and family through my 30 year blacksmithing career and it is lovely for them to see a piece of this importance among my commissioned works.”