Maxime Allan, Goldsmith and Silversmith

Virginia Allan is the jewellery studio of British goldsmith and silversmith Maxime Allan, based in Hastings, East Sussex.

I’ve always loved stories and now I get to tell them through metal.

Before becoming a metal artist, I was an actress.  Years of studying how a story captivates an audience, how a single detail can transform a scene and draw people in, all of that remained with me even after I changed careers. I still create characters and share them through my work.

Growing up in Winchester, my piece The Warning draws inspiration from there, specifically from Tess of the d’Urbervilles, the Hardy novel set in my hometown. These places have left a lasting impression on me, teaching me to notice the world around me and appreciate the details others might overlook.

I’ve always been drawn to the dark and the mysterious. Tarot, British folklore, witchcraft and the occult have all influenced my work.  These stories, often told to explain the night, are the source of the skulls and darker pieces I create. I don’t find them grim; in fact, I find them honest and intriguing.

Now living in Hastings, a coastal town steeped in smuggling and pirate history, I feel it’s the perfect setting for my work. The sea here seems to take as much as it gives, mirroring the ebb and flow of my creative process.

I hold a Master’s degree in jewellery design and have exhibited my work in galleries. My pieces have won awards and been featured in the press. As a goldsmith and silversmith, I work exclusively with solid gold and silver, never using plating. Everything above the legal threshold is hallmarked at the London Assay Office before it leaves my workshop. I create pieces that are meant to last a lifetime, passed down through generations. I love the thought of a piece being discovered decades later and cherished by a relative who didn’t live during your time.

Every piece I create is meticulously hand-made at my bench, finished to my exact specifications.

Maxime

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Maker: Maxime Allan

Studio: Hastings, East Sussex, England

Specialism: one-of-a-kind gold and silver jewellery

Materials: Solid gold, sterling silver and precious stones

Hallmark: London Assay Office

Style: Folklore, sea, literature and darker story telling

Made: By hand at the bench