The P&O Makower Trust Silver Commission is an exciting opportunity that supports a recently graduated or early career silversmith to create a major piece of silver that will go on display here at the V&A. In October we advertised a call for entries, inviting applications for the next commission and, following interviews, we are very pleased to announce that Na’ama Haneman is the 2023 recipient of the V&A P&O Makower Trust Commission.
For over 45 years, the Penelope & Oliver Makower (1974) Trust has commissioned major objects of silver to go on long term loan to national museums throughout the UK. This year’s commission looked to highlight the work of silversmiths whose practice demonstrates an innovative approach to working silver. The judges, made up of members of the Makower family; James Robinson, Keeper of Decorative Art and Sculpture at the V&A; Jonathan Boyd, Jeweller and Head of Applied Arts at the RCA; Rebecca de Quin, Silversmith and Tutor of Jewellery and Metal at the RCA; and myself, were looking for work that demonstrates excellence within the craft of silversmithing. We had a high number of very strong applications, which made judging the entries a difficult task for the panel, but Na’ama’s proposal for the commission stood out as an exciting and innovative proposition.
I am very honoured to be this year’s recipient of the P&O Makower Trust Silver Commission and am very grateful to the panel and the V&A for believing in me and supporting my work. I am also thankful to the Makower family and the V&A for continuing to support and spotlight contemporary metalwork.
This is a significant moment in my career, and I’m delighted for the opportunity to showcase my work at such a prestigious institution and for the work to communicate with visitors. My proposal examines the object as subject and will use silver and traditional silversmithing techniques to explore the interface between humans and the objects around them.
Na’ama
We are thrilled to be commissioning Na’ama with the 2023 V&A commission. Her practice explores the space and meaning between and around objects, and we look forward to seeing how this develops as she makes the work over the next year.
The P&O Makower Trust
The V&A has 24 commissions on long term loan from the P&O Makower Trust and the museum is very grateful for the ongoing support of the Makower family to support and promote the work of emerging silversmiths. Previous commissions are on display in Room 68 of the Whiteley Silver Galleries and includes work by the likes of Jane Short, Rod Kelly, David Clarke and Nan Nan Liu. Na’ama’s commission will join these and go on display in spring 2024. Over the next year we will document Na’ama’s process of making the commission with a series of further posts.
