City jeweller set to give south very own ‘Angel’
A70-FOOT landmark – rival to the iconic Angel of the North – is set to be erected thanks to a Birmingham jeweller.
Chris Shellis says funding for the £1.2 million project has almost hit its target and the artwork is planned to be unveiled in the south of England.
A number of areas want the Guardian Angel of the South because of the tourism it would attract.
Six possible prime locations are now on a shortlist, including Beachy Head and the White Cliffs of Dover.
Businesses, arts organisations and local authorities have weighed in with pledges of financial support.
“It’s a dream come true,” said Chris, who runs Jewellery Quarter business House of Borgeize, which specialises in VIP bling.
“The sculpture represents words: liberty, hope and love.
“It’s taken about a year, but the response has been enthusiastic. People realise the tourist potential of something like this.
“It will attract a great deal of tourist attention, both nationally and internationally, and will be very beneficial to the local economy.”
The hardest part, says Chris, has been selecting the location. He originally hoped it could have been in Birmingham.
But, he says, he simply could not find anywhere capable of accommodating the statue.
The metal spike that secures it will have to be driven 40 feet into the ground and options in Brum were limited.
“I originally thought of the Fort Dunlop area but was told it might be a distraction to motorists,” said Chris. “The other areas are just too small.”
He has not ruled out placing a scaled-down version in the heart of Birmingham, however.
“The Angel’s metal panels will be made from the highest quality marine-grade steel, which will guarantee it will never tarnish or fade,” said Chris. “It will always shine and blaze in the southern sunshine, and it will be visible for many miles – even from the air.”
It will always shine and blaze in the southern sunshine, and it will be visible for many miles – even from the air
Chris Shellis, pictured
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The Angel, which also features as an emblem on a number of Chris’s designs, will be crafted by London specialists.
Chris’s Jewellery Quarter business has hit the headlines with its high end designer pieces. In 2014, he unveiled real-life Cinderella shoes made with 18-carat gold and encrusted with 1,290 diamonds – for £200,000.
A handbag studded with 345 diamonds went on sale for £105,000, and stilettos – bearing the symbol being used for the Angel of the South sculpture – with 2,000 sparklers recently had a £2,000 price tag.
Just last month, Chris came up with a £60,000 diamond-encrusted money belt for the man about town.
There has been no shortage of customers willing to splash the cash. “They include Russian oligarchs, families from the Far East, certain people in the States and the UK,” said Chris. “There are extremely wealthy people in London.”