Creating an Eisteddfod Crown: Elin Mair Roberts' story

Elin Mair Roberts, from Y Ffôr near Pwllheli, is using its boundaries as the basis for the Crown.

The 31-year-old jeweller grew up on a farm and has already started work on the Crown at her workshop in Caernarfon.  While keeping the design’s finer details a closely guarded secret, she’s happy to reveal that she intends to use silver, ensuring a specific handling of the metal to emulate the textures seen in the countryside. To represent the local landscape, Elin will use the green colour for the headwear material.

Elin Mair was chosen to create the Crown for the competition which invites poets to compose a Pryddest or collection of poems not in cynghanedd (strict metre) and up to 250 lines on the topic of Freedom.  The prize is the Crown, sponsored by the Caernarfonshire Branch of the Farmers' Union of Wales and £750 donated by the Bryn Bodfel Family, Rhydyclafdy, in memory of Griffith Wynne.

One of Elin Mair's friends saw the Farmers' Union of Wales’ notice in the local papur bro. inviting anyone interested in submitting a design and making the Eisteddfod Crown to do so.   Elin Mair said: "I hadn't thought of doing it but soon decided to give it a go.

"That was in 2020 of course because the National Eisteddfod was due to take place in Boduan in 2021. But Covid-19 came and put a stop to everything.  I kept the design and submitted it last year and was delighted when I heard that my design had been chosen for this year's Crown.

"It’s a privilege and an honour to design and create the Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod Crown." 

Elin Mair has been designing contemporary jewellery and memorable gifts since 2011.  She studied at Hatton Garden in London before returning to Wales. Over the years  her approach has developed from fast-paced sketches and sculptures to three-dimensional design, and she describes her jewellery as "feminine, floral and dainty".  Her work is now sold in selected independent shops and galleries across Britain.

She is now a sub-partner at Siop Iard in Caernarfon town centre with Jewellery designer Angela Evans and jeweller Ann Catrin Evans who is also known for her impressive Metalwork, both of which  have also produced and created National Eisteddfod Crowns.

For several years now, she has been exhibiting her work at the Eisteddfod, welcoming customers to her stand at Artisan. 

She works with the Precious Metal Clay (PMC) material, also known as Silver Clay. PMC is a combination of recycled organic binders, water and microscopic silver particles.   The clay is formed by hand into shape and the desired texture is added, before being dried, sanded and then fired in a kiln. The firing process removes the binder and assays the metal into solid form.  After firing, all soldering and traditional silversmith work can begin, and the pieces are transformed into wearable designs.

Elin Mair said working with PMC is quite different from traditional silversmith work in that it requires a different set of skills, which are more similar to  those of potters and sculptors.

"I haven't done something like a Crown before but I'm looking forward to the work and looking forward to seeing the response," she said.

The Caernarfonshire branch of the Farmers' Union of Wales is sponsoring this year's competition.   Gwynedd Watkin, County Executive, said the Union had a proud tradition of offering National Eisteddfod prizes.

"We are delighted to be able to continue the tradition for the 2023 Eisteddfod and it’s a privilege and pleasure for the Caernarfonshire Branch of the Farmers' Union of Wales to present the Crown to the winner at the Llŷn and Eifionydd Eisteddfod 2023, and we are delighted that it will be Elin Mair Roberts from Y Ffôr near Pwllheli.

"Elin Mair is a contemporary jeweller creating designs using the precious metals gold and silver.  As a farm girl, agriculture inspires her on a daily basis, as well as nature, which is evident in her current collections.

"We as a Union are looking forward to seeing the work completed and having the Crown presented to the Eisteddfod," he said.

The Crowning ceremony will be held at the Eisteddfod on Monday afternoon, 7 August.

The Llŷn and Eifionydd National Eisteddfod will be held in Boduan, Pwllheli from 5-12 August.  For more information visit www.eisteddfod.cymru.  The competitions portal opens at the end of February for competitors to upload their composition entries and to register for stage competitions.