Phill Mason
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
At the age of 15, Phill passed up the opportunity to take on an apprenticeship as a jeweller. Instead he taught himself silver soldering and jewellery fabrication techniques while pursuing a range of other opportunities: a science degree, a fine arts degree, teaching, running his own restaurant followed by a craft gallery in Tasmania. Since making jewellery Phill has won numerous awards internationally, been national chair of the Jewellers and Metalsmiths Group and is a founding member of the Gold and Silversmiths Guild.
Phill’s contemporary jewellery is influenced by his training as a goldsmith and also as a gem cutter. This places him in the unique position of having control over all aspects of making: from sourcing the rough stone, designing the cut and faceting the stone; through to designing the setting and completely hand-fabricating the final piece. This enables Phill to select unusual and rare gemstones and present them in exquisite cuts. In each piece, the design of the stone and setting is integrated and bears the signature of Phill’s audacious vision.
