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Free Estimates
Flexible Hours (including nights & weekends)
Local to the San Francisco Bay Area? Email or phone for an appointment.
(650) 274-1781
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San Mateo, CA
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The best option to get in touch is email.
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OR... fill out the form below. (This form will not allow you to attach images. You can send images after my return email.)
Phone me: (650) 274-1781
(If I am working in my studio, I may not answer the phone.)
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Please do NOT text images of your silver.
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A word about pricing
If you can send a photo during our email correspondence, I will provide a guesstimate for repair. However, I may need to reevaluate the repair issues once I see the object in person. Sometimes underlying problems or previous repairs may not be easily visible until much closer inspection. Occasionally, I may see previously undiagnosed issues after spending hours with your silver. Therefore I reserve the right to adjust the repair estimate but will always inform you by phone or email, waiting for your consent before initiating or continuing the repair.
I strive to provide great service and top-quality repairs while keeping expenses low but keep in mind that each and every job is one-of-a-kind custom work done by hand. Quality repair work on sterling and silver plate requires specialized skills and equipment along with years of experience. There is no such thing as "dipping" or assembly line manufacturing when doing silver repair and restoration.
One-of-a-kind repair and restoration work is not an economical decision. It rarely makes sense to repair an object based on the retail price. Retail prices for sterling silver and silver plate are very low because of weak demand and oversupply. Have your silver repaired or restored for your own enjoyment or because it has sentimental value.
about Harriete Estel Berman:
Craft in America: JEWELRY includes my work. streaming online now.
On Friday, December 10, 2021, PBS presented a one-hour video special about JEWELRY -- and it features five jewelry artists including Tom Herman, myself, Harriete Estel Berman, Jesse Monongya, Gabrielle Gould, and mid-20th century jeweler Art Smith. The video also includes commentary by the co-editors of Ornament Magazine.
Watch the full JEWELRY episode on the PBS website here.
Watch Harriete Estel Berman’s section on Youtube here.
Harriete Estel Berman, the Silversmith
Silversmithing skills:
My metalsmithing skills started with my academic training. I have a B.F.A. in Metalsmithing from Syracuse University, and a M.F.A. from Tyler School of Art, Temple University. Between undergraduate and graduate school I worked doing jewelry repair for years. After graduate school, I continued working in silver repair and restoration at Peninsula Plating for 8 years. The photo to the left is from this time period.
(Photo above:) Harriete Estel Berman repairing silver in 1984.
(Photo above:) State of the art technology TIG welder to fix silver.
Examples of my artwork are featured in over 40 books including a whole chapter about my work in the book Manufractured: The Conspicuous Transformation of Everyday Objects, Makers: A History of American Studio Craft, and the cover of The Fine Art of The Tin Can.
Harriete Estel Berman, the artist’s role:
In my artist’s life, I create Jewelry, Judacia and Sculpture which has been shown throughout the United States, Europe, and Africa. Since 1988 all my artwork uses post consumer, recycled materials to construct jewelry and teacups to large sculpture of social commentary.
View artist website for Harriete Estel Berman.
My artwork is in the permanent collections of 16 museums:
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, MN
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
The Jewish Museum, New York, NY
Jewish Museum, Berlin, Germany
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis, TN
Oakland Museum of California, Oakland, CA
Racine Art Museum, Racine, WI
Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC
Temple University, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Yeshiva University Museum, New York, NY
The Congregation Emanu-el, San Francisco, CA
Volunteer Activities
My blog ASK HARRIETE regularly offers professional advice to the art community .
Berman has written Professional Guidelines for the arts and crafts community with the guidance of artists, makers, gallery owners and collectors. The purpose of the Professional Guidelines is to promote understanding, checklists, and practical solutions for recurring issues in the art and craft community. The Professional Guidelines are available as downloadable PDF files.
Volunteer activities for Harriete Estel Berman include taking care of her neighborhood for 25 years, participation as a volunteer control subject in medical/clinical research, and the SNAG Professional Development Seminar for nine years.
Silver Repairs Require Strength
What is scarier? Hanging upside down in a silk harness for the first time or doing challenging silver repair jobs?
Definitely, silver repair.
Hiking and climbing the slot at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
I also lead six exercise classes per week (shown below.)
During COVID-19 I started an Outdoor Exercise class for friends (photos above and below) to help others stay healthy, strong, and sane during these difficult times. With social distancing, we exercise outside at a safe distance from one another.
Photo above: Hiking and climbing in Painted Canyon slot canyons. This is between Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, CA.