Makers & Designers

Maia Holm (b. 1941) is regarded as one of South Africa’s first full-time female gold and silversmiths and is the only practicing member of her pioneering generation of women goldsmiths. Born in Berlin into a family of artists, Holm moved to South Africa in 1948, where her creative upbringing shaped her lifelong devotion to the applied arts. Inspired as a teenager after observing master goldsmith Erich Frey at work, she refined her skills through selective study in Germany before establishing her own workshop in Pretoria in 1962.

Holm’s work combines technical mastery with a deep sense of intimacy and meaning, often incorporating unconventional materials such as bone, porcelain, glass, and wood. She has exhibited internationally since the 1960s, receiving acclaim in Washington, Florence, and across South Africa, and has undertaken major public and private commissions. Her jewellery is celebrated for its simplicity, elegance, and enduring human connection.