Secrets of the Thames: Mudlarking London’s Lost Treasures

Join London Museum curator Kate Sumnall for a glimpse behind the scenes, in a talk exploring the London Museum Docklands’ exhibition Secrets of the Thames; the curation and research revealing the stories of these found objects. 

Following Kate’s talk, you will hear from designer-makers, Kumiko Kihara and Liz Willis, whose mudlarking-inspired jewellery collections will be available in the London Museum Docklands (LDM) shop from the end of October 2025, as part of the Goldsmith’s Centre’s jewellery showcase. Discover how their collections connect to the rich history of London and the River Thames.

Liz’s Mudlarked Collection combines silver, silk threads and found objects, collected mudlarking along the Thames to create pieces of wearable history. Kumiko connects to the physical landscapes of the Thames to capture long-forgotten moments and narratives. To create her Dockland Stories Collection, she collected mud from the river and used it in a sand-casting process with Sterling silver.

Date and Time: 13 Oct 2025 · 6:00PM - 7:15PM
Ticket Price: Pay what you can: £7 or £10
Venue: Online (via Zoom), UK time
Booking link: https://goldsmiths-centre.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/70591?catID=66685&



About the Goldsmiths’ Centre
At the Goldsmiths’ Centre, we support the jewellery and silversmithing industry to embrace learning as an essential lifelong practice. Our mission is to foster capability at every link in the chain, making ongoing professional development visible and accessible to all. Through technical courses and business support, affordable workspace, funding opportunities and events we aim to close the industry’s skills gap, so that creativity, craftsmanship and community can thrive.