1937-
Gage, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Gage was born in 1937 into an artistic family and studied design at London’s Chelsea School of Art and at Sir John Cass College.
1937-
Gage, Elizabeth
Elizabeth Gage was born in 1937 into an artistic family and studied design at London’s Chelsea School of Art and at Sir John Cass College.
Elizabeth Gage was born in 1937 into an artistic family and studied design at London’s Chelsea School of Art and at Sir John Cass College. She trained as a goldsmith and had been working for six years when she got her first major commission, designing a collection for Cartier New York, in 1968. She went on to set up her own business and opened a boutique in central London designing and making bold jewellery in 18 and 22ct yellow gold set with bright colourful gems, often inspired by antiquity.
In 1972 she won the coveted DeBeers Diamonds International Award for her ‘Agincourt’ ring which was described as ‘an engineering masterpiece’. Roman and Egyptian jewellery, ancient zodiac symbols, 14th Century pageants and Kings and Queens have all informed her work and of archaeological jewels she says, “They have always fascinated me and I adore the rich colour of their gold and the practical way they were made.”
In 1984 she opened her West End showroom in Albemarle Street and in 1989 was awarded the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement in recognition of the significant amount of sales she made abroad, particularly in America. In 2013, the Victoria & Albert Museum acquired two pieces of Gage’s jewellery as part of its permanent jewellery collection. A ruby and tourmaline ‘Agincourt’ ring and a ‘Kiss Pin’ set with tourmalines, aquamarines, rubies and pearls are now on display in one of the world’s most important museum jewellery galleries.
That same year, Gage moved premises to Belgravia where she was able to bring her design studio, offices and salon together in one space. In 2017, she was named in the Honours List and received an MBE. Having dedicated her life to creating beautifully designed and crafted jewellery Gage said “I am honoured and extremely proud to receive such an award for my work. I feel so privileged to have been able to make my career doing what I love.”