Simon Benney

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Simon Benney
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Born (1966-01-01) January 1, 1966 (age 58)
Occupation
  • Designer
  • Maker of Jewellery

Simon Benney (01 January 1966) is a designer and maker of jewellery and objets d'art, and the holder of two Royal Warrants[1] for HM The Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales.

He is the owner and CEO of House of Benney, and was featured in the BBC Documentary "Handmade by Royal Appointment"[2][3][4]. He also makes watch cases[5] and has collaborated with various other houses including Faberge[6][7].

Early life & education

Simon is the youngest son of journalist Janet Benney and silversmith Gerald Benney CBE[8], who was himself the first British craftsperson to ever hold four Royal Warrants at the same time[9] - a feat Simon also went on to achieve in around 2000.[10]

Simon was educated at Charterhouse School[11] and the Gemological Institute of America[12] in Los Angeles, USA. Simon has two brothers, one the artist Paul Benney, and a sister.

Career

Having left the Gemological Institute of America Simon worked independently during the 1980s before taking over the running of House of Benney from this father in the early 1990s[13].

Simon in his own right is Goldsmith and Silversmith to the British Royal Family, holding all current Royal Warrants and regularly undertaking bespoke commissions[1]. He was the subject of a BBC documentary titled "Handmade by Royal Appointment"[2], a series which followed four different Royal Warrant holders, first aired in 2016 and which also followed Wedgwood, John Lobb Shoes and Steinway as well as Benney.

Selected designs

  • Simon is the designer and maker of The Three Graces, a candelabra which at the time was the most valuable modern silver commission since World War 2 with an estimated value from Bonhams of between £250,000 and £300,000.[14][15] It was unveiled at a standalone exhibition at Goldsmiths' Hall in January 2008[16].
  • Simon worked on the re-creation of the "Golden Lyre of Ur", one of the 5,000-year-old Lyre of Ur harps working with with Harp enthusiast Andy Lowings[17].

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Benney | Royal Warrant Holders Association". www.royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "BBC Four - Handmade: By Royal Appointment, House of Benney". BBC. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  3. "'Handmade: By Royal Appointment'". www.assayofficelondon.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  4. Milner, Glen (producer and director); Bright, Richard (executive producer); Wanamaker, Zoe (narrator) (May 29, 2016). "House of Benney". Handmade: By Royal Appointment. Episode 3. BBC. BBC Four.
  5. Henley, Jon (2009-11-14). "How to make a watch". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. "Bonhams : BENNEY A unique silver and enamelled beaker, an early prototype for the Fabergé Silver Collection mark for Simon Benney and additional mark for the Fabergé collection, London 2010". www.bonhams.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  7. "FABERGÉ Pinterest Account - exquisite silver and enamel tumblers and shot-glasses created in collaboration with Royal Warrant silversmith Simon Benney". Pinterest. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. "Departures | Gerald Benney". Departures. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  9. Hughes, Graham (2008-07-24). "Gerald Benney - Obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  10. Colman, Elizabeth (2023-10-17). "How to work in the city and live in the country". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  11. "OC Profile - Simon Benney (S84)". www.charterhouse.org.uk. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  12. "JCK - The Jewellery Industy Authority, Forecast". 1997-01-01. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  13. "About House of Benney". House of Benney. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  14. Stephen, Phyllis (2019-08-12). "Best of Bonhams on show now". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  15. "Bonhams : Most Valuable Contemporary Design Silver Ever Offered at Auction at Important Design Sale". www.bonhams.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  16. "Bonhams : BENNEY the unique contemporary silver and enamelled candelabra suite 'The Three Graces' Simon Benney, London 2007". www.bonhams.com. Retrieved 2023-03-22.
  17. "BBC - Ancient looted harp re-created". 2005-07-31. Retrieved 2023-10-17.

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