Hi! I'm Dr Sarah McAleer

About Sarah McAleer Historysmith...

Hi there! I’m Dr Sarah McAleer - a jewellery historian, goldsmith, mentor and writer. My fascination with jewellery and history began over three decades ago and has taken me on a journey that bridges art, academia and storytelling.

Originally from Northern Ireland, I trained at the Glasgow School of Art in Jewellery & Silversmithing before completing my PhD at the Royal College of Art in London.

My doctoral research - Children’s Jewellery in Europe: Traditions & Contemporaneity - resulted in a 140,000 word PhD Thesis that positioned me as the world’s leading expert in this field.

My research traced the materials, meaning, and myths of children’s jewellery back to the prehistoric era - firmly placing ‘the child’ into ‘jewellery history’ for the first time. By weaving together art history, fashion history, anthropology, sociology and the cultural history of childhood, I created a new framework for understanding ‘children’s jewellery history’ within global culture.

Visit The Children's Jewellery Archive

What I 'Also' Do...

Alongside my historical research, I run a busy jewellery & mentoring businesses...

Sarah McAleer Jewellerysmith

For the past 33+ years, I’ve run an award-winning jewellery practice - Sarah McAleer Jewellerysmith.

I create luxury bespoke commission pieces, contemporary ready-to-wear collections and challenging exhibition work for a world-wide client-base that spans 5 generations of females and their families.

Explore Jewellery

Sarah McAleer Mentorsmith

For 28+ years I have lectured and taught for universities, schools and local councils and now focus on online mentoring through Sarah McAleer Mentorsmith.

I help artists and makers turn their creative practices into sustainable and profitable creative businesses.