The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award
Premier Award
The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship on a significant undertaking.
It is only awarded when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves a standard to justify the honour.
The winner of the award has their name inscribed in the Jacques Cartier Memorial Award Gold Book and also receives a valuable gold replica of the book, plus a cash prize.
This Cartier Award solid gold book houses the names of all the winners of the Cartier Award
This Cartier Award solid gold book houses the names of all the winners of the Cartier Award
Celebrating craftsmanship on the mark or close to perfection
The record of winners over the decades makes an impressive list of craftsmen and women working at the top of their craft, and is documented in this website. Master silversmith Christopher Lawrence and the iconic artist enameller Fred Rich have each won the Jacques Cartier Memorial Award three times, a phenomenal and unrivalled achievement in the history of the Award.
The winner of this ultimate honour has their name inscribed in the Jacques Cartier Memorial Gold Book and also receives a valuable gold replica of the book, an amazing honour and lifetime achievement.
In the spirit of the Council's overarching aims, the Cartier Award is the perfect way to denote and celebrate craftsmanship on the mark or close to perfection, and its mere existence and status in this competition continually challenges entrants to strive for this level of exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship.
The Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council has a special and unique relationship with Cartier, its founding Principal Patron. The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award was introduced in the competition in 1958 with the primary aim of creating an award that signified exceptional and outstanding craft skills demonstrated in a piece of work entered in the competition. This award is about a benchmark standard of the highest order and therefore it is only granted if these demanding criteria have been met. When this accolade is given at the prize-giving event at Goldsmiths' Hall, Cartier's Managing Director usually presents this prestigious Award in person.
Winner 2023
Winner 2018/19
2019/20
Record of recent Jacques Cartier Memorial Winners
2022 No award given
2021 Fred Rich, The Fair Game Vases - Enamelling
2020 Tom Rucker - Coloured Platinum & Diamond Collection
2019 Tony Bedford, Chased Head Inspired by Rodins Burghers of Calais – Chasing
2018 No award given
2017 Paul Jones, Revolving Dial Clock – Smallworkers
2016 & 2015 No award given
2014 Simon Coldicott, Motorbike – Modelmakers
2013 No award given
2012 Gavin Haselup, Saracen & Knight Busts – Modellers
2011 & 2010 No award given
2009 Paul Towens, Model of Oil Rig – Silversmithing
2008 Jane Short, Enamelled 'Tazza' – Enamelling
2007 Gillie Hoyte Byrom, Enamelled Minature – Enamelling
2006 Ray Walton, Covered Dish – Silversmithing
2005 & 2004 No award given
2003 Fred Rich, Enamelled Vases – Enamelling
