## **REPORT 1 FEBRUARY 2022 - 31 JANUARY 2023**
## **THE FOUNDATION’S OBJECTIVES**
1. To raise public awareness of the design and craftsmanship of modern British silver by facilitating exhibitions at museums, galleries and other venues such as stately homes, as well as suitable events both in the UK and overseas.
2. To be active in raising the profile of modern British silver in the media and via a website.
3. To encourage design and/or craftsmanship by sponsoring prizes for students at individual colleges or via a national competition.
4. To encourage young silversmiths based in the UK by bursaries/grants.
5. To commission outstanding objects from young and established silversmiths for public exhibition to show that high levels of craftsmanship are alive and well in the UK.
6. To encourage a culture among the public of commissioning instead of buying ‘off the shelf’ to re-establish the patronage of previous generations, perpetuating rising levels of craftsmanship.
Although The Pearson Silver Foundation (TPSF) only became operational in December 2009, its sister organisation, The Pearson Silver Collection, started its life in 1984. Numbers 1-5 of the objectives have been achieved either by the Collection before 2010 or by the Foundation from 2010. Although we have undertaken a design competition (see 3 above), this objective may be removed. Objective 6 is a long-term goal.
Registered Office: 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV! 2NT Registered Number: 07074544 | Registered in England Registered Main Charity Number 1136757
## **THE PEARSON SILVER COLLECTION (TPSC)**
The Collection is devoted to post-World War II designer British Silver. It has been the largest of its kind in private hands for some time and, more recently, has been regarded as being of national importance. It features over 1000 pieces and has been a ‘one-man collection’ since it started. Most institutional collections are formed by committee.
The Collection tells the story of the Renaissance of British silver design postWorld War II. Its star is a run of 66 boxes by Gerald Benney, from the first one he designed in 1952 to one of the last made in 2000. Two large ones in 18carat gold weigh over a kilo between them; there is one of the six presentation boxes commissioned by Queen Elizabeth II and the Damson Tobacco Box featuring an 18-carat gold enamelled damson containing an 18-carat moving model of a ‘nodding donkey’ oil drilling tool. It was presented to an executive of the Damson Oil Company. The highlights of the Stuart Devlin pieces are three traditional brandy warmers with a complex form that Stuart designed to be made at the Royal College of Art to show his skills as a silversmith. Although made in 1959, they were not hallmarked until they were given to friends. They bear the hallmarks for 1965, 1967 and 1973. It took from 2006 to 2023 to track the three brandy warmers down.
TPSC has great depth and breadth and has work by master, long-established, emerging, recently graduated and student silversmiths. The Collection contains pieces by over 300 makers and includes small items such as caddy spoons and paper knives and larger pieces such as centrepieces and trophies. It has groups of pieces such as handleless vessels, honeypots and paperweights.
A small part of the Collection exhibited at Sworders in Cecil Court, Covent Garden, London in October 2021
## **Are there any plans for the Collection?**
Its owner would like the Collection to remain intact and viewable by the public while also being available for study by students and others. This will be communicated in due course. While the Collection will be given _gratis_ to the
Registered Office: 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV! 2NT Registered Number: 07074544 | Registered in England Registered Main Charity Number 1136757
‘right’ organisation, it will be responsible for obtaining grants or finance for the building, display cases, security system, staffing, etcetera. **Highlights of the Year**
Creating displays and competitions take time. For example, our last piece of displayed silver for this year started life in January 2020 when we commissioned Theresa Nguyen to make a centrepiece to break her from featuring nature with uniformity. I wanted an elongated oval with a theme based on nature, featuring insects, having an element of movement, and being of a varying height. It should also be made from mixed metals; wherever possible, any patination (i.e. colouring) should use non-chemicals. Her first basic design comprised grasses starting at a low level and gradually increasing in size to peak at the other end of the oval. The other inclusion in this design came from a suggestion to add bees in to the design.
I recalled a walk when I was aged eight with my great-grandmother and parents through a meadow alongside the River Severn in Worcestershire. I described a meadow as ‘organised chaos resulting in beauty’. From the pictures of meadows she sent me, it was clear that she now knew what was wanted.
The Meadow Centrepiece was made during the Covid lockdowns, but I was kept fully informed by Theresa with images and videos. The Centrepiece was launched at _Mastery, Women in Silver_ (Ruthin Craft Centre, North Wales. 24 July – 18 September 2021) and later at an exhibition of highlights from The Pearson Silver Collection at Sworders (in London’s Covent Garden, 4-15 October 2021). In January 2022, it entered the _Goldsmiths’ Company Design and Craft Awards_ competition, fondly known as the goldsmiths and silversmiths’ Oscars.
In February 2022 it won two awards: in the Silversmiths’ _Craft 3D Finished Pieces & Special Awards_ section it won the Senior Award and in the Silversmiths’ _Design 3D Finished Pieces & Special Awards_ section it won Gold in _The Lindström Award_ . Entrants were asked to submit, ‘Any largescale item or product of silverware as a finished piece. Judges were looking for exciting and creative ideas and design originality.
The Meadow Centrepiece was illustrated on five of the Oscars’ 100-page catalogue’s pages. It was also displayed at Goldsmiths’ Hall (28 February - 4
Registered Office: 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV! 2NT Registered Number: 07074544 | Registered in England Registered Main Charity Number 1136757
March 2022), at The Birmingham Assay Office (21 - 30 March 2022) and at _Elements_ in Edinburgh (28 - 30 October 2022). Although Theresa lives in Birmingham, and a press release was sent to two Birmingham websites promoting the city’s news, there was no response, underlining the media’s lack of interest in silver. This issue needs to be addressed. The Meadow Centrepiece was offered free of any costs on a long-term loan to Worcester Museum, given that it was based on a meadow at Stourport-on-Severn 12 just miles away. The offer was declined.
TPSF was delighted when the Chairman of Contemporary British Silver described the piece as the most realistic portrayal of nature he had ever seen in metal.
## **The Graham Stewart Workshop**
Sadly, Graham Stewart, one of the leading Scottish silversmiths, died in October 2020. He hoped a silversmith would acquire his shop, studio and workshop. This did not happen, so he contacted the Foundation and generously offered us the contents of his studio and workshop. As TPSF could not accept such an offer, we introduced him to the Deacon of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths in Edinburgh. He considered the late Hugo Burge of Marchmont House in the Scottish Borders would be interested and he was right. Graham Stewart wanted his tools and library to be used for educational purposes. Hugo allocated the old kennels to be converted into a workshop for three recent silversmithing graduates starting their businesses, together with an established silversmith to act as a mentor. There was to be another bench for visiting silversmiths and accommodation was made available for all on the Estate.
The Incorporation was in the situation of transferring its charitable activities to The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) and the Director of the Incorporation was appointed its CEO. The Workshop was opened in March 2022. The Foundation was active in its set-up. Two of the silversmiths would benefit from guidance by Rod Kelly in Shetland before starting at Marchmont. Rod offered this gratis, the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust offered to pay their travel and the Foundation gave each silver approximately to the value of £1000 each to make a piece under guidance. We gave the third, more experienced silversmith, a £12,000 commission for a piece to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III.
## **Where Does TPSF’s Funding Come From?**
During the year 2022-2033, a dozen or so individuals known to the founder of TPSC donate £25 a year as Friends of The Pearson Silver Foundation; The Goldsmiths’ Company paid TPSF £1200 for TPSC’s Curator valuing its modern British Silver Collection; an auction house paid the Foundation £600 for introducing it to a silversmiths’ widow who consigned his coin collection for auction; HMRC refunded VAT the Foundation paid on purchases; a corporate friend donated £5000; some money remained from bequest payments from 2021; the individual who started the Collection donated £21,200.
Registered Office: 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV! 2NT Registered Number: 07074544 | Registered in England Registered Main Charity Number 1136757
## **How has TPSF Spent the Gift Aid Money it Received?**
This was spent on additions to the Collection.
## **The Foundation’s Published Accounts**
The books are kept by the Senior Trustee who has a BA degree in Economics and Accounting and Finance from Lancaster University. The accounts are prepared by professional accountants and are signed-off by the Senior Trustee.
Senior Trustee
Registered Office: 111 New Union Street, Coventry, CV! 2NT Registered Number: 07074544 | Registered in England Registered Main Charity Number 1136757
Registered number: 7074544
**THE PEARSON SILVER FOUNDATION UNAUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 JANUARY 2023**
Hills & Co Accountants
**The Pearson Silver Foundation Unaudited Financial Statements For The Year Ended 31 January 2023**
## **Contents**
||**Page**|
|---|---|
|Company Information|1|
|Accountant's Report|2|
|Profit and Loss Account|3|
|Balance Sheet|4|
|The following pages do not form part of the statutory accounts:||
|Trading Profit and Loss Account|5|
**The Pearson Silver Foundation Company Information For The Year Ended 31 January 2023**
|**Director**|Mr John Andrew|
|---|---|
|**Company Number**|7074544|
|**Registered Office**|Union House|
||111 New Union Street|
||Coventry|
||West Midlands|
||CV1 2NT|
|**Accountants**|Hills & Co Accountants|
||9 Hawkes Piece|
||Harvington|
||Evesham|
||Worcestershire|
||WR11 8HW|
Page 1
## **The Pearson Silver Foundation Accountant's Report For The Year Ended 31 January 2023**
In accordance with the engagement letter dated , and in order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have compiled the financial statements of the company from the accounting records and information and explanations you have given to us.
This report is made to the director in accordance with the terms of our engagement. Our work has been undertaken to prepare for approval by the director the financial statements that we have been engaged to compile, to report to the director that we have done so, and to state those matters that we have agreed to state to them in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's director for our work or for this report.
You have acknowledged on the balance sheet as at year ended 31 January 2023 your duty to ensure that the company has kept proper accounting records and to prepare financial statements that give a true and fair view under the Companies Act 2006. You consider that the company is exempt from the statutory requirement for an audit for the year.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit of the financial statements. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the financial statements.
Signed
## Date
Hills & Co Accountants 9 Hawkes Piece Harvington Evesham Worcestershire WR11 8HW
Page 2
**The Pearson Silver Foundation Profit and Loss Account For The Year Ended 31 January 2023**
|**TURNOVER**
Other income
Staff costs
Other charges
**NET PROFIT/(LOSS)**|**2023**
**£**
33,500
6,729
(145)
(8,436)
31,648|**2022**
**£**
16,040
1,351
-
(47,885)|
|---|---|---|
|||(30,494)|
Page 3
## **The Pearson Silver Foundation Balance Sheet As at 31 January 2023**
|Fixed assets
Current assets
Creditors: Amounts Falling Due Within One Year
**NET CURRENT ASSETS**
**TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES**
**NET ASSETS**
**CAPITAL AND RESERVES**|**2023**
**£**
552,119
39,442
(9,116)|**2022**
**£**
496,886
41,405
(8,500)|
|---|---|---|
||30,326|32,905|
||582,445|529,791|
||582,445|529,791|
||582,445|529,791|
## Notes
## 1. **General Information**
The Pearson Silver Foundation is a private company, limited by shares, incorporated in England & Wales, registered number 7074544. The registered office is Union House, 111 New Union Street, Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 2NT.
## 2. **Average Number of Employees**
Average number of employees, including directors, during the year was as follows: NIL (2022: NIL)
For the year ending 31 January 2023 the company was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006 relating to small companies.
The member has not required the company to obtain an audit in accordance with section 476 of the Companies Act 2006.
The director acknowledges his responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of accounts.
These accounts have been prepared in accordance with the micro-entity provisions.
On behalf of the board
## Mr John Andrew
Director
Date
Page 4
## **The Pearson Silver Foundation Trading Profit and Loss Account For The Year Ended 31 January 2023**
|**TURNOVER**
Sales
Other trading income
**OTHER INCOME**
Other operating income
Interest receivable and similar income
**STAFF COSTS**
Travel expenses
**OTHER CHARGES**
_Other direct costs:_
Repairs, renewals and maintenance
Other direct costs
_Premises expenses:_
Rent
_General administration costs:_
Printing, postage and stationery
Advertising and marketing costs
Accountancy fees
Professional fees
Bank charges
Charitable donations
Sundry type A
**NET PROFIT/(LOSS)**|**2023**
**£**
**£**
32,000
1,500
33,500
6,690
39
6,729
40,229
145
(145)
480
-
480
3,005
826
175
1,383
915
60
1,592
-
4,951
(8,436)
31,648|**2023**
**£**
**£**
32,000
1,500
33,500
6,690
39
6,729
40,229
145
(145)
480
-
480
3,005
826
175
1,383
915
60
1,592
-
4,951
(8,436)
31,648|**2022**
**£**
**£**
16,040
-
16,040
1,342
9
1,351
17,391
-
-
6,100
250
6,350
3,258
748
463
1,507
12,590
-
22,573
396
38,277
(47,885)
(30,494)|**2022**
**£**
**£**
16,040
-
16,040
1,342
9
1,351
17,391
-
-
6,100
250
6,350
3,258
748
463
1,507
12,590
-
22,573
396
38,277
(47,885)
(30,494)|
|---|---|---|---|---|
||6,690
39||1,342
9||
||145
480
-||-
6,100
250||
|||40,229
(145)
(8,436)||17,391
-
(47,885)|
||480||6,350||
||3,005
826
175
1,383
915
60
1,592
-||3,258
748
463
1,507
12,590
-
22,573
396||
||4,951||38,277||
||||||
|||31,648||(30,494)|
Page 5
X Chadwick Accountants
& Bookkeepers Ltd
nde
endent Examin
rfsRe
rt on the Accounts
Report to the directorslmembers of:
ThE PEARSON SILVER FOUNDATION
On accounts for the year ended:
January 2023
Companles House no:
07074544
I report to the members on my examlnatlon of the accounts of the above
company ("the Company? for the year end 31101123.
Respective responsibilities of officers and examiner5
As the dlrector's of the Companyi you are respN)nsible for the preparation of the
accounts in accordan with the requirements of the Q)mpanies House Act 2006
C'the Act?, ensurfng that the company kpS accountlng records which comply
wlth Sectlons 386 and 387 of trE Companles Act 2006.
It Is my responslblllty to:
Examine the accounts to ensure that bw have been prepared in
accordance with general accoUnng prinaples
stste whether any particular matters have come to my attention
Basis of independent examinerfs report
An examination includes a review of the accountlng records kept by the
foundation and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It
also includes consideratlon of any unusual items or dlsclosures In the accounts
and seeking explanations from you as Offir5 conceming any such matters. The
procedures undertaken do not provide all the evldence that would be required in
an audit and consequently no oplnion is given as to whether the accounts
present a kne and falr VI and the rep)rt is limited to matters set out
In the statement below.
Offi, 90 Hpjh Stre< Bidf0rd--ADn, B50 4AF, United fing(kN
Tel: 01789 773 162 E-mall: Inf
un
X Chadwick Accountants
& Bookkeepers Ltd
Independent examinerfs statement
I have completed rny examination. I confirm that no material matters have come
to my attention in connection with the examination giving me cau* to believe
that in any material rw:
l. Accountlng records were not kept in restEtt of the Trust as required by
section 130 of the Act or
2. The accounts do not accord with those records.
I have no cOnmS aThJ have come across no other matters in connection with
the examination to which attentlon should be drawn in this rep)rt in order to
enable a proper understarKling of the accounts to be r&iched.
Signature:
Prlnt Name: Rachael-Ann Harrison
Date:
12th March 2024
Avon Wiew OF5, 90 High Stre¢ Wford-on-A¥Dn, B50 4AF, Unl1 Kingdc
Tel: 01789 773 162 E-mail:
ntants.