{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1789706"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1789706/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF4747/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PF4747/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PF4747","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2025PF4746","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1789706","accessionNumber":"M.16:1,2-2025","objectType":"Sgian-Dubh","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Ellis Mhairi Cameron creates sculptural gold & diamond jewellery, inspired by her Scottish heritage and the Scottish landscape. Her collections have been inspired by historic Scottish talismans, objects worn for both their protective and aesthetic qualities. \n\r\nA sgian-dubh, translating to \"black knife\" in Gaelic, is a traditional Scottish small knife worn in the sock. It is a part of Highland dress and was historically used for personal protection. A client of Cameron’s, whose wife owns one of Cameron's rings, inquired about a bespoke sgian-dubh, sparking interest. Around the same time Cameron’s family excavated sections of historic weaponry on the family farmland, which date back to the 1500s, and together this prompted the development of her new object series.\n\r\nOver the last few years Cameron has worked with master bladesmith Simon Maillet to create three sgian-dubh. Cameron designed the sgian-dubh and then collaborated with Maillet to make the knives. His expertise in creating textured steel aligned with Cameron's organic, earth-inspired aesthetic. Together, they created a range of textured sgian-dubhs set with old cut, round and baguette diamonds, each taking over 20 hours to fashion, set and engrave. \n\r\nEach piece was forged in steel and iron by Maillet, before being diamond set by Cameron. Each blade is a three layer san-mai construction, with 52100 core and recycled iron cladding from Sheffield. The series celebrates Scottish heritage and personal identity and combines traditional and contemporary craftmanship.\n\r\n","physicalDescription":"Steel and iron sgian-dubh, of triangular shape with pointed blade and handle engraved and set with diamonds.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Cameron, Ellis Mhairi","id":"AUTH404638"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Maillet, Simon","id":"AUTH406709"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"x40240"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"steel","id":"AAT133751"},{"text":"iron","id":"AAT11002"},{"text":"diamonds","id":"AAT11084"}],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"},{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Forged steel and iron sgian-dubh of three-layer san-mai construction with 52100 core and recycled iron cladding from Sheffield, engraved and set with old cut diamonds, with engraved signature of Ellis Mhairi Cameron and stamped maker's mark of Simon Maillet. ","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Scotland","id":"THES262877"},{"text":"Ironwork","id":"THES251837"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2025PF4747","2025PF4746"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"66","id":"THES49733"},"free":"","case":"1","shelf":"2","box":""},{"current":{"text":"004","id":"THES404529"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"knife","id":"x31542"}],[{"text":"box","id":"x44081"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"Sheffield","id":"x29138"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"E.50-2025","id":"O1794760"},"association":"Design"}],"creditLine":"Gift of Ellis Mhairi Cameron","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"16.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"27/02/2025","earliest":"2025-02-27","latest":"2025-02-27"},"part":"sgian-dubh","note":"M.16:1-2025"},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"3.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"27/02/2025","earliest":"2025-02-27","latest":"2025-02-27"},"part":"sgian-dubh","note":"M.16:1-2025"},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"27/02/2025","earliest":"2025-02-27","latest":"2025-02-27"},"part":"box","note":"M.16:2-2025"},{"dimension":"Width","value":"22","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"27/02/2025","earliest":"2025-02-27","latest":"2025-02-27"},"part":"box","note":"M.16:2-2025"}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"II/V","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"The sgian-dubhs are named in Roman numerals I-III. This sgian-dubh is the second in the series and is engraved with the numerals II/V"}],"objectHistory":"Whilst studying an Art Foundation Course in Glasgow in 2010 Ellis discovered a passion for jewellery and went on to study a BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing at the Glasgow School of Art, before moving to London in 2015, to study for a Masters in Jewellery Design at Central Saint Martins. \n\nCameron launched her brand in 2018, with a desire to create jewellery inspired by her heritage. Her studio is based at The Goldsmiths Centre, London. She makes bespoke and wholesale jewellery sold internationally, through showcases such as Goldsmiths Fair and Melee, and stockists such as Esqueleto, Aetla and Liberty London. In 2023 Ellis was awarded The Gem X Scholarship for engraving, and in March 2024 The Goldsmiths Company awarded Cameron a Large Bursary Grant to continue her engraving study.\n\nEllis finds inspiration in the history and landscape of the Scottish Highlands. The Cameron clan has lived near Oban since 1502 and she grew up in this area on her family farm. In 2022 a set of standing stones were uncovered on overgrown land and their significance was confirmed by Historic Scotland. The family have since undertaken metal detecting on the land and have found numerous finds dating back to c.1500. These finds have been registered with Treasure Trove Scotland, with some now in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland, and they have provided further sources of inspiration in her practice. \n\nSimon Maillet is a French master bladesmith, who specialises in making high quality kitchen knives, working to his own designs and has a core clientele of working chefs. He forges the knives using locally sourced carbon steel and wood. Originally trained in urban ecology and landscape design a career change was prompted by a chance meeting with a bladesmith in 2009. In 2017 he relocated to Manchester from France, and later moved to Sheffield due to the it's connections with steelwork and blacksmithing.\r\n\n\n","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sgian-Dubh, steel, iron and antique cut diamonds, with black presentation box. Ellis Mhairi Cameron and Simon Maillet, London and Sheffield, 2024","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Sgian-Dubh\r\nForged steel and iron, engraved and set with antique cut diamonds\r\nEllis Mhairi Cameron and Simon Maillet\r\nLondon and Sheffield, 2024\r\nEllis Mhairi Cameron is a London-based jeweller whose work is inspired by the rich landscape and archaeology of her native Scottish Highlands. Sgian-dubh means ‘black knife’ in Gaelic and is a traditional feature of men’s Highland dress. This design draws inspiration from historic weaponry unearthed on her family’s land. Working with the bladesmith, Simon Maillet, she created a textured and engraved surface evocative of rough, excavated earth and set it with diamonds. \r\nGift of Ellis Mhairi Cameron\r\nMuseum No. M.16:1-2025\r\n","date":{"text":"30.07.2025","earliest":"2025-07-30","latest":"2025-07-30"}}],"partNumbers":["M.16:1-2025","M.16:2-2025"],"accessionNumberNum":"16","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2025,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-09-04","recordCreationDate":"2024-10-31","availableToBook":false}}