Jewellery Quarter relays Olympic spirit with silver batons
THE Birmingham Assay Office has entered into the Olympic spirit by presenting the national teams using Birmingham as their training bases with special mementoes of their time in the city.
Ceremonial sterling silver batons have been awarded to representatives from the US and Jamaican teams.
The batons showcase the skills of some of the silversmiths and jewellers working in the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter.
Steve Millington, of L. J. Millington, one of the quarter’s longest established family-owned silver-smithing companies, was commissioned by Birmingham City Council to produce the civic gifts. The batons are based on a similar object exhibited by the company earlier this year at the Made in the Jewellery Quarter exhibition.
Millington’s linked up with Argex, based in Hockley Hill, which supplied the silver. Steve Millington then worked closely with Assay Office laser marker Suki Singh, who created the precise and detailed artwork on the batons including the flags of each country, together with the Union Jack and Birmingham 2012 on one side and all the separate hallmarks, including the unique Queen’s Diamond Jubilee commemorative mark on the other side.
The batons themselves measure 38mm in diameter, 280mm in length and contain 344gms of silver.
Suki said: “This is a really historic moment for Birmingham and it is great to be part of it. Laser marking the batons as well as the silver plaques which are mounted on oak plinths was a challenge and there is absolutely no room for error but I am very pleased with the result and both teams have really appreciated the workmanship involved.”
James Wrighton, based in Steward Street, completed the last leg of the Team Birmingham relay, supplying the special oak plinths used to mount the batons. Millingtons then created the bespoke silver cradles safely housing the silver batons.
Steve Millington said: “It really was a team effort with every Birmingham based company playing its part to complete these unique items on time. I would like to thank everyone involved and am pleased and proud of the quality and workmanship that we have all achieved.”
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr John Lines, who presented the batons to the team representatives, said: “This is a great moment; to be able to hand over precious metal batons that have been crafted in Birmingham fills me with pride. As a city we are able to play host to two training camps for some of the greatest athletes in the world, and now we’re able to hand them world-class workmanship from our city’s world famous Jewellery Quarter.”
Michael Allchin, Chief Executive and Assay Master, said: “It is great to have world class athletes in Birmingham and very fitting that the city should mark their visit here with such an appropriate gift. The batons recognise their fantastic athletic achievements with a beautiful contemporary product made by one of Birmingham’s longest surviving industries, and marked at an Assay Office with innovative 21st century technology.”
