Gold Silver Time 2003 has come to an end!

Gazeta Stołeczna No. 232, the Warsaw edition of 2003/10/04-2003/10/05, section RYNEK, page 7, ALBERT ZAWADA MAGDA KŁODECKA

The Jewellery and Watch Trade Fair

Beauty and Times

Even those most resistant to the charm of jewellery will have to succumb to the beauty of the objects shown at the IV Fair of Jewellery and Watches "Gold Silver Time".

Almost at every stand one needs to stop for a little longer; it is not enough to take a glance and move on. Not everything is on sale, but the exhibitors who have provided for such an opportunity are very popular.

Magic reality

The stand of the World of Shells and Minerals from Poznań is the craftsman's reality combined with magic unreality. She and he, dressed in coarse costumes, decorated with amulets and talismans, explain what power and properties are kept in the replicas of Aztec, Inca, Egyptian, Celt, Viking or Slavic jewellery. We can check whether the Triskal sign, i.e. the spiral of three elements, the symbol of long life worn by the Slavs actually protects against misfortunes and failures. We can also try out the symbol of artists, modelled after the Hopi Indian jewellery, which is supposed to intensify one's talent.

Modern and extraordinary

The Fair offers magnificent glass products decorated with silver and amber (Dukat), but also arousing mixed feelings amber mushrooms. Whereas the 'Into of Poland' exhibition shows clearly how much the world has speeded up for the past tens of years. There are clocks similar to those once standing or hung in our grandparents' houses. Next to them - state-of-the-art electronic timers.

Also the Gallery of Designers is worth visiting. This contains about 40 mini exhibitions of extremely original products - small displays are full of objects, which are often very remote from the common idea of a ring or necklace; it is a must to see them, as they are impossible to describe.

Exhibitions at the Fair "Amber Drop" - rare forms that amber can take; "Amber in the Kurpie Region" - how amber working has changed since the 15the century; "Józef Fajngold" - the works of the sculptor and goldsmith from pre-war Warsaw; "Golden Times of Fountain Pens" - antique fountain pens from the early years of the 20th century compared to the most modern models.

The Fair presents a wide selection of amber products.

The IV Fair of Jewellery and Watches - Gold Silver Time 2003, the annual festivity of Polish jewellers, has come to an end. 180 exhibitors from the jewellery and horology industries presented their products at the Warsaw Expo XXI Centre, on the area of 3,000 m2. Among them, the most important jewellery companies, such as Ambermoda, Apart, Corundum, DUK, Perpol De Tian, Szuchman Gold, Silver & Amber, Yes Biżuteria.

As every year, the Gallery of Designer was very popular, which hosted artistic jewellery collection of over 50 creators. Also common presentations of artistic craftsmen during the speeches of the National Goldsmith and Jewellery Commission of the Polish Craft Association and the Polish Chamber of Amber Commerce have become a traditional element of the Fair.

In the opinion of the exhibitors, the jewellers' circles and the visitors, the Gold Silver Time 2003 Trade Fair has been a commercial and organisational success. This finds confirmation in the official statistics: the event was visited by nearly 1,500 owners of jewellery shops around Poland, over 250 merchants (data obtained from the Fair's registration database), including tens of foreign traders (from Belgium, Byelorussia, France, Canada, Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Slovakia, the USA, Turkey, the UK, and Italy), and over 1,500 fans of ornamental art.

I declare the Fair open! - These traditional words were spoken out by Jerzy Bartnik, President of the Polish Craft Association (on the photo - first from the right), just before cutting the ribbon together with Ms Teresa Gajewska from Jolanta Kwaśniewska's "Understanding without Barriers" Fund and Jerzy Mackiewicz, the Economic Counsel of the Poland's President. It is worth to mention that the activities of the jewellery and horology industry focused around this event have been noticed also outside Poland. Official visitors to the Fair included representatives of Inhorgenta Europe in Munich, one of the largest specialist events in the world, and a journalist from German G+Z Journal, well known on the world jewellery market. The visitors from Germany participated in the ceremonial opening and visiting of the Fair, and at the special presentation they presented possibilities of cooperation between the Polish and German jewellers in the light of Poland's accession to the EU.

On the photo (from the right): Martina Jahrbacher, Marketing and Public Relations Director of the Munich Fair; Simone Michalek, Deputy Commissioner of the Inhorgenta Europe Fair and Alexander Duboisa from German G+Z Journal.

At the meeting it was also decided that the Visual Art Studio and the Polish Chamber of Amber Commerce will be the organizers of the common presentation of the Polish jewellers, amber artists and designers at Inhorgenta Europe 2004.

The visit of the German guests has come to an end. One more goodbye "family" photo: from the right - Alexander Duboise, Joanna Biernacka and Krzysztof Kiljańczyk from the Polish Representation of the Munich Fair, Zbigniew Strzelczyk, President of the Polish Chamber of Amber Commerce, Władysław Polesiński, President of MCT, Wanda Gontarska, the Trade Fair Director, Martina Jahrbaher, Eugeniusz Galimski, President of PSP, Simone Michalek and Robert Pytlos, Marketing Manager of PSP-MCT.

The Gold Silver Time Fair was also visited by the delegation of Print' Or, the fair of jewellery and watches in Lyon. During bilateral talks the will of cooperation between the organizers of both fairs was declared, and a possible exchange of stands. The visits of the German and French guests was construed by the industry as a proof of recognition for the exhibitors and the organizer of the Gold Silver Time Fair, as well as an expression of the increasing interest of the EU states in the Polish jewellery market.

As every year, the Fair was accompanied by a number of prestigious competitions, the winners of which were selected during the event. The winner of the most important of them was Adam Pstrągowski's Silver & Amber from Gdynia, which was granted the Award of the Minister of Economy, Labour and Social Policy for the Best Polish Product at the Fair. In their justification, the Award Chapter pointed to the uncommon design of the jewellery, active promotion in Poland and abroad, and the remarkable cooperation with Polish designers and craftsmen. It is worth noting that the Award of the Minister of Economy, Labour and Social Policy was prepared by the Visual Arts Studio, and the author is Sławomir Fijałkowski, a renowned Polish designer of jewellery.

The Award of the Minister of Economy, Labour and Social Policy from the hands of Igor Mitroczuk from the Department of Foreign Investment and Export Promotion, on behalf of Adam Pstršgowski, the owner of Silver & Amber Jewellery, was collected by Jakub Mańczak, Marketing Director.

For the third time in the history of the Fair, also the National Competition of Artistic Jewellery - "Presentations", was carried out, which this year was held under the Honorary Patronage of Jolanta Kwaśniewska. Mrs President could not attend the ceremony of granting the awards, but she addressed a congratulation letter to the laureates. The winners of the Competition were Marta Bogusz and Eugeniusz Gowkielewicz, who received a prize in the amount of PLN 6,000, founded by the International Fair Centre, the organizer of the Fair, for unpretentiousness and multi-functionality of the jewellery set as well as for the possibility of independent creation by the user.


The letter from Jolanta Kwaśniewska


Warsaw, 25 September 2003

Dear Sirs and Madams,

I would like to thank you for your invitation to this year's IV Fair of Jewellery and Watches - Gold Silver Time.

I am glad that your event is growing and becoming increasingly important with each year. It is worth to notice that the Fair combines successfully the artistic and commercial aspects, which allows Polish designers to present their work and find buyers. It is a rare phenomenon nowadays and that is why it deserves even more the words of acclaim. That is also why it was such a great pleasure to assume the Honorary Patronage over the National Competition of Artistic Jewellery - PRESENTATIONS 2003, and I hope that it will help Polish artists in promoting their works.

I only regret that I cannot join you in admiring the newest collections of jewellery and watches, the precious exhibits of ornamental art as well as the newest creations of renowned Polish designers.

I congratulate the winners of the Presentations Competition: Ms Marta Bogusz and Mr Eugeniusz Gowkielewicz, Filip Jackowski, Daniel Orłowski, Rafał Burczyński and Jacek Rochacki.

I wish all of you success at the Fair, and to Polish artists and craftsmen -innovative ideas and attractive business contacts, which will allow the fans of ornamental art around the world to admire the artistry of our design and goldsmith achievements.


Yours faithfully,

Jolanta Kwaśniewska

Glove and golf. Marta Bogusz and Eugeniusz Gowkielewicz, Silver cord, silver

Eugeniusz Gowkielewicz collects the award from the hands of President Władysław Polesiński and congratulations from President Eugeniusz Galimski. Second place in the competition was awarded to Filip Jackowski for an anecdote based on interpretation of a dressing form and taking care of little details (the prize in the amount of PLN 4,000 founded by the Visual Arts Studio - the co-organizer of the Fair),

Filip Jackowski receives congratulations and the award from Presidents Eugeniusz Galimski and Władysław Polesiński

and third place to Daniel Orłowski for consciously indefinable method of use, which prompts the consumer to a creative game (silver in a form of STFZ logo founded by the President of the Goldsmith Artists' Association (STFZ) and granulated silver founded by the KGHM company).

Daniel Orłowski."Possession" leather strap, silver

Daniel Orłowski among the sponsors: from the left Andrzej Bielak - President of STFZ and Tomasz Tycel from KGHM Metraco

Distinctions in the competition, from the Perpol Moda Dzisiaj and Usługowa Pracownia Chemiczna Kowary, were granted to: Rafał Burczyński and Jacek Rochacki.

The golden Moebius band is handed to Jacek Rochacki by engineer Piotr Barański

Rafał Burczyński collects his prize (bulk pearls) from the Perpol representative.

Sponsors of Presentations 2003 awards:

Presentations 2003 - a souvenir photo of the laureates and sponsors

The third from the most prestigious competitions held during the Fair was Gold Silver in Handicraft, organised by the National Goldsmith and Jewellery Commission of the Polish Craft Association and the International Fair Centre. The level of works submitted this year was very high, which was emphasised not only by the jurors, but also by the visitors to the Fair. This year, the competition was divided into two categories: juniors, who competed under the banner of "a gift for the eighteenth's", and seniors, for whom the subject was "jewellery from the grandma's casket". The winner of the juniors was Katarzyna Klimas for the "Bouquet of wishes" pendant.

"Bouquet of wishes" pendant - a gift for the eighteenth's by Katarzyna Klimas

Jerzy Macur hands the prize to the winner, Katarzyna Klimas, silver semi-finished materials, founded by the Jerzy Macur Metaloplastyka company. Second place Jakub Śliwowski for the Goldwasser spring, who received a financial prize from the Górecki Jewellery Company.

Jakub Śliwowski. The Goldwasser spring - a gift for the eighteenth's.

Jakub Śliwowski collects the prize from Zbigniew Górecki, the owner of the Górecki Jewellery Company

Third prize for a ring (silver) - a gift for the eighteenth's - goes to Magdalena Rak

Magdalena Rak collects the prize (a photo camera) founded by ZRP, handed over by Janusz Kowalski, President of the National Goldsmith and Jewellery Commission of the Polish Craft Association.

Magdalena Rak collects her diploma from the hands of Karol Kowalski from ZRP.
From among the seniors, the winner was Robert Ulański for a jewellery set called "The Swan Lake", who received

Gold and Silver in Handicraft - a souvenir photo of the laureates and sponsors

granulated silver from the Apart company and an insurance policy from Signal i Duna. Second place was granted to Janusz Kowalski for a jewellery set.

Janusz Kowalski. A jewellery set.

Granulated silver from the YES Jewellery company goes to Janusz Kowalski.

Janusz Kowalski with Krzysztof Madelski, President of the YES Jewellery's Management Board

Third place was granted to Iwona Lis-Filipczyk for the "Bunch of Grapes" earrings.

The prize from the Duk company, an artistic silver article

Iwona Lis-Filipczyk collects the prize from the hands of Stefan Duk, the owner of the Duk company

Iwona Lis-Filipczyk collects her diploma from Jerzy Kurczok

a souvenir photo of the laureates of the Gold and Silver in Handicraft competition

The increasing significance of the Gem of Polish Jewellery competition, organised by the PB Catalogue - Polish Jewellery, is also worth noting. The main prize at this year's edition, on the basis of the audience voting, the jury granted to Małgorzata Wąsocka (on the photo from the left) for the "Frozen Ambers" collar. The winning production will be decorating the cover of the next edition of the Polish Jewellery Catalogue throughout the year - as declared by Andrzej Sadowski, Director of the Publication (on the photo from the right).

The winners of the second edition of the DESIGN competition, announced by specialist monthly "Zegarki & Biżuteria", were Hanna and Jacek Zdanowski. The jury in the panel: Adam Leja (Galeria 32 in Warsaw), Paweł Kaczyński (the winner of the last year's edition of the competition) and Anna Sado (editorial of Z&B) decided to grant them the prize for innovative design of usable forms and permanent search of new forms of artistic expression. The jury most of all evaluated the novelties prepared by the exhibitors of the Gallery of Designers, but also their artistic achievements so far. The Main Prize is 3 kilos of granulated silver, and additional prizes are: the title page of the December edition of Z&B and an interview/presentation of the winner in the same edition.

The Zaremski brothers, from the left: Łukasz, Marcin and Tomasz

GALLERY OF DESIGNERS

Traditionally, high level was represented by the specialist seminars, held during the Fair. The most popular among the jewellery producers were presentations of P.A.T Bugała and OTEC companies on finishing of cast jewellery surface, and the jewellery workshops on advertising and public relations under the banner of "marketing of luxury vs. luxury of marketing", run by Magdalena Kruppik from the Rytosztuka company.

The Gold Silver Time Fair is not only a specialist event, but also a social and cultural meeting, visited with pleasure by fans of ornamental art and people from the circles of culture, business and politics. An undoubted sensation of this year's edition of the Fair was the exhibition: "Józef Fajngold - a sculptor and goldsmith of pre-war Warsaw",

for the first time presenting in Warsaw the complete output of this extraordinary artist, kept at the Museum of Copper in Legnica. The exhibition would not have come to life without the support of the general sponsor of the Fair - the ERGO HESTIA Group from Sopot and the Visual Arts Studio, the co-organizer of the Fair.

Another interesting exposition was "Amber Drop", prepared according to the scenario of renowned amber scientist Prof. Barbara Kosmowska - Ceranowicz from the Museum of Earth at the Polish Academy of Science. The visitors could admire this phenomenon, from among the numerous forms, in which amber occurs in nature, built for instance into the newest collections of renowned Polish designers, Danuta and Mariusz Gliwicki and Paulina Binek.

A new element among the events accompanying the Gold Silver Time Fair was the exhibition of "Golden Times of Fountain Pens", prepared by the Club of Fountain Pen Lovers and Collectors. The visitors could not only see the newest collections of the most prestigious brands, but also very valuable antique pieces.

Moreover, the fans of ornamental arts could admire:
- the Amber Altar from the St Brigitte Basilica in Gdańsk - a photography exhibition prepared by the International Amber Association
- Amber in the Kurpie Region - an exhibition prepared by the Museum of North Mazowsze in Łomża.

The Amber in the Kurpie Region Exhibition

The Amber Drop Exhibition

- Diplomas of Jewellery - the works of the graduates from the Władysław Strzemieński Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź
- Presentations of works of the students of the Jacek Malczewski Complex of Fine Arts Schools in Częstochowa
- New jewellery collections 2003/2004 - presentations of: Apart, Górecki Jewellery Company, Thompson, MJM Marek Jóźwiak i Mateusz Jóźwiak s.c., Małgorzata Wąsowska Jewellery Company, Yes Jewellery

Apart

Thompson International

Yes Biżuteria

MJM Marek jóźwiak i Mateusz Jóźwiak

Górecki Firma Jubilerska

Małgorzata Wąsowska Firma Jubilerska

- The newest collection of Ambermoda - amber jewellery of Danuta and Mariusz Gliwicki
- Art Gallery in Legnica - silver schools, a cycle presenting the artistic output of goldsmith schools, their professors, graduates and students. The presentation of the Massan Academy, the Centre of Art and Design from Barcelona and the Estonian Academy of Fine Arts in Tallin.
- Jewellery reproductions and stylizations of Aztec, Inca, Egyptian, Celt, Viking and Slavic cultures made in gold, silver and bronze.

Shows of Early Middle Ages Handicraft in goldsmith art, products of bone, leather, wood as well as the artistry of warriors - Grzegorz Pilarczyk
- Presentations 2003 - an exhibition of works submitted to the National Open Competition of Artistic Jewellery under the Honorary Patronage of Jolanta Kwaśniewska
- Gold and Silver in Handicraft - an exhibition of works submitted to the National Goldsmith Competition.

Also, the following were held daily:
- Free evaluation of jewellery by experts from the Association of Jewellery Appraisers.
- Shows of amber finishing in the Kurpie region
- Amulet - sign - jewel. Jewellery in Poland - promotion and sale of the book from the series of Artistic Craft and Design in Poland edited by Katarzyna Kluczwajd from the Distric Musem in Toruń.

See you next year at the jubilee, fifth edition of the Gold Silver Time Fair!

1 - 3 October 2004 in Warsaw,
The Expo XXI Centre