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London-based photographer Orlando Gili has launched a compelling new series that honors the skilled artisans working along the Old Kent Road in south London. Capturing individuals who create beautiful handmade objects, Gili’s work shines a light on the manual craftsmanship that continues to define this historic industrial area. One of the central figures in the series is Benjamin Bryde, a young aluminium tray polisher working at Kaymet, a company known for transforming metal into elegant objects found in high-end settings worldwide.
Inside Kaymet’s polishing workshop, Benjamin operates amidst clouds of aluminium dust and well-worn machinery that predates him. Despite the repetitive and dusty environment, there is a calm precision in his methodical approach. He explains, “I’m a metal polisher from south London, specialising in refining aluminium surrounds for trays. My work focuses on achieving a flawless finish, ensuring every piece is smooth, clean and free from dents. It’s all about precision, craftsmanship and bringing out the best in the metal.” His dedication embodies the quiet expertise that underpins the survival of handcraft in a city increasingly driven by technology.
Gili’s photographic series emerged from months of documenting the makers who uphold the Old Kent Road’s legacy, once famed as the first and cheapest tile on the Monopoly board. “This series celebrates London’s artisans and craftspeople – individuals who make their living through skill, precision and the art of working with their hands,” Gili explains. He underscores the importance of highlighting these trades in a digital age, noting that “In a world that’s increasingly defined by screens and automation, this series turns its focus to the people and trades that remain grounded in the physical, material realm – the makers whose expertise and creativity sustain a vital part of the city’s identity.”
Kaymet served as Gili’s entry point into this network of hidden workshops, which also includes London Stone Carving, one of the last commercial sculpture studios in the city, and the heritage marble specialist Diespeker & Co. The photographer was particularly drawn to Kaymet’s polishing room, thick with dust and stripping color from the surroundings. He lights and photographs Benjamin during a brief window of calm before the factory resumes its operations after a tea break. Kaymet, founded in 1947, produces crisply touched trays stocked by retailers such as Harrods and used in prestigious venues ranging from the Royal Yacht to Michelin-starred restaurants like The Ledbury. As Gili observes, “The industrial environment in which they are crafted makes for a striking contrast to the refined places they end up.” His work invites viewers to appreciate both the craftsmanship and the people responsible, reminding us that London’s manufacturing heritage and its skilled makers remain vital today
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