The gold and silversmith's craft is intangible cultural heritage

The gold and silversmith's craft is intangible cultural heritage

The German UNESCO Commission has added gold and silversmithing to the national list of intangible cultural heritage. This recognition contributes to preserving the traditions of the craft and raising awareness of them.

Left: Hand-engraved ring. Photo by Tantalum Trauringe from Magdeburg.

One of the oldest metal crafts in human history

The gold and silversmith craft is now officially part of the UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of Germany. on the official website of the UNESCO Commission is it [called:

Gold and silversmithing is one of the oldest metal crafts known to mankind. It involves the artistic processing of precious metals into jewelry or sacred and secular objects. For thousands of years, gold and silversmiths have been using highly specialized techniques to create individual works of art that carry artistic and social significance. The skills encompass numerous techniques such as sawing, filing, soldering, engraving, and gemstone setting. In addition to manual dexterity, in-depth knowledge of metallurgy, chemistry, and design is required. Today, the craft is passed on in small workshops, through training companies, or master schools, and combined with modern requirements.

Today's gold and silversmith trade preserves a wealth of expertise handed down through generations. These skills are closely linked to cultural identity, as jewelry fulfills not only aesthetic but also social and symbolic functions. Sustainable practices such as the recycling of precious metals and the combination of traditional techniques with modern requirements keep the craft alive. Furthermore, the trade's training structure, as well as competitions for young talent and specialist lectures, strengthen the transmission of knowledge and promote the next generation of craftspeople.

Great joy about the recognition by UNESCO

The applicant for the recognition was the Central Association of German Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, which has now also expressed its delight at the recognition in a separate press release. Michael Seubert, President of the Central Association of German Goldsmiths and Silversmiths, says: 

"We are delighted by the recognition and appreciation of the cultural value and significance of our craftsmanship. Just think of the Green Vault in Dresden, which, without the craftsmanship of its master goldsmiths and silversmiths, would not be able to tell a story for future generations."

At the same time, we see the award as recognition of our training and continuing education. We see the award as an incentive to further expand our work for our members and continue our efforts to return to Annex A of the Crafts and Trades Code."

Promoting historical knowledge of crafts

After extensive preparations, the Central Association officially submitted an application for inclusion in Annex A of the Crafts Code to the responsible Ministry of Culture of the State of Brandenburg. The expert committee recognizes the gold and silversmith trade as one of the oldest traditional metalworking crafts, in which diverse knowledge and skills have been passed down unchanged for centuries.

Even today, the craft is still taught in small businesses and, particularly through jewelry making, provides a sense of identity for its practitioners. The high recyclability of the material, in terms of sustainability, and the strong presence of women in leadership positions, in terms of gender equality, are particularly positively regarded.

The central association would like to encourage people to further engage with the history of crafts and to reflect more deeply on the impact of raw material extraction in former colonial territories.