Show Your Metal

Metal frames our world. From technology and transport to jewellery, art and architecture, its applications are countless and varied. Coinciding with the 400th anniversary of the Cutlers’ Company of Hallamshire, this major exhibition will celebrate the marvel of the material in all its forms.

Sheffield’s metalworking heritage dates right back to the 12th century. In the years that followed, the city has been home to a multitude of internationally significant developments and innovation.

Showcasing over 100 objects drawn from Sheffield’s Designated Metalwork Collection, Show Your Metal will celebrate the pioneering advances that earned the city a global reputation. See examples of Old Sheffield Plate, electroplated metals and stainless steel and discover the processes behind them.

The exhibition will also celebrate the spectacle of metal in the hands of artists through dazzling displays of creativity, craft and skill. Works by contemporary artists will combine industrial and precious metals, encouraging visitors to consider the cultural and economic value we attach to this endlessly adaptable material.