Gift Ideas

Need a Gift Idea?

Looking for something different and more personal for someone? Then consider  commissioning a Staffordshire Enamel box with a personal, hand painted image. Your home, a beloved pet or a special inscription can all be done to order from a photograph.

In this age of machines and mechanical processes, Staffordshire Enamels are still painting each box by hand, making them a truly personal gift.  With their feet firmly rooted in History- they started in 1741 - they have honed their techniques to incorporate modern developments, but each box is still hand painted by an artist, unlike many other brands who use transfers.

Commissioning your own piece does take time – 6 weeks or so - (but it is worth it!). If you don’t have time to have one designed for you, then come into Gatwards and browse the collection of these delightful pieces.  Many of them already have special messages on them which will suit most occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, seasonal, Valentines etc. or even an egg box for Easter. 

Spot light on designers:

LALIQUE

Often called the sculptor of light, Rene Lalique and the brand that bears his name still aheres to the qualities in which he believed; creativity, emotion and above all excellence.  Every piece of Lalique is sculpted with care and dedication by master craftsmen who still blow glass in the traditional manner.

Rene Lalique started working and exhibiting under his own name in the early 1900s. The combined influences of the Art Nouveau & Art Deco periods are still seen in the clean lines and feminine angles of both the glassware and jewellery collections.

Though Lalique is traditionally known as a glassware designer, the brand also produces a range of crystal jewellery. The inspiration for Lalique’s  glassware was the natural world; earth, air, fire and water and these elements are still reflected in the crystal jewellery. 

Picture of Dragon fly

Modern Lalique has drawn on inspiration from the past and brought back the perfume bottles which originally made Rene Lalique the household name that he is today.  A more recent introduction is the delightful range of Lalique fragrances which can be tested at Gatwards.

Selection of Lalique

Birthstone for February: Amethyst

Birthstone of Month: Amethyst

Amethyst, a member of the Quartz family, is a beautiful purple stone which can range from a very pale lavender to a deep rich purple with flashes of red. The deep purple stones are the stones which command the highest prices. Amethyst is the most sought after and highly valued of all the stones in the Quartz family.

The stone can either be cut and facetted into many different shapes or it can be polished into beads for use in necklaces.  Amethysts have a hardness of 7 on Moh’s Scale which means it is suitable for everyday wear, but can still chip if knocked.

Amethysts have a deep rich, almost royal colour. In Roman times, deep purple was the colour reserved for the Emperor, but today it is available to all making this purple stone a great piece to wear as a statement piece or to highlight colours in an outfit. As Amethyst is a mineral (quartz) it can be cleaned either ultrasonically or with warm water and a soft brush.  Avoid storing Amethysts in direct sunlight as this can fade the colour. 

The word amethyst in Greek means ‘not drunk’ and it was believed that Amethysts would prevent the wearer from getting drunk. In the times of the Ancient Greeks and Romans people would have drinking vessels and amethyst amulets made to stop them getting drunk. However today, it is just a versatile stone that is very popular. Check out some of our beautiful Amethyst pieces.

Selection of Amethyst Jewellery