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Two of the top prizes at this year’s National Eisteddfod have been handed over to festival officials.

The chair and the crown will be awarded to the best poets at ceremonies presided by the Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Bards during the event at Llanrwst in August.

Both were presented to the festival’s Executive Committee at a special ceremony in Oriel Ffin y Parc, Llanrwst .

The Eisteddfod Chair has been made by Gwenan Jones from Maerdy near Corwen while the Crown has been crafted by contemporary jeweler Angela Evans of Caernarfon.

It is the first time the two major prizes have both been designed and made by women.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts / North Wales Live) (Image: Arwyn Roberts / North Wales Live)

Both also incorporate copper from the Great Orme copper mines in Llandudno. A two centimetre cube of pure bright copper was presented to Eisteddfod officials for use in their construction.

The Chair is presented for a poem or collection of poems in cynghanedd, of no more than 250 lines, entitled Gorwelion (Horizons). It is sponsored by the Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire Branches of the Farmers Union of Wales , and the cash prize is donated in memory of poet Gwynfor ab Ifor by his family.

Gwenan Jones said: “It has been such an honour to design and create a Chair for the National Eisteddfod, especially with the festival being held locally. I appreciate the opportunity and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“ The River Conwy and the county's industries have inspired the design. The river is the backbone of the county, flowing from its source at Llyn Conwy on the Migneint mountain to the estuary in Conwy, and it is seen running down the two shepherd's sticks that form the side of the Chair.

"The shape of the stick reflects the county's agricultural background, and the river flows brown to reflect the peatland of the area.”

At the top of both front legs, a slate bed was laid from Cwm Penmachno quarry, framed by embedded layers of copper. The writing and date are also set in copper.

“I thought it was important to use different materials from the Conwy County area, so local slate and copper are prominent, as there is a historic copper quarry at the Great Orme, Llandudno. The copper is also visible on the Nod Cyfrin on the back panel of the Chair.

“In addition, the town of Llanrwst is visually important, and the town bridge, with its contrast of circular and angular shapes inspired the design of the two front legs. I have also created a statue of the bridge on the back panel of the Chair,” she added.

(Image: Arwyn Roberts / North Wales Live) (Image: Arwyn Roberts / North Wales Live)

The Crown is presented for a sequence of poems not in cynghanedd, of no more than 250 lines, on the subject of Cilfachau (inlets).

It is sponsored by the housing association, Grwp Cynefin , and the cash prize donated by John Arthur and Margaret Glyn Jones, Llanrwst.

For Angela Evans being asked to create the Crown was a dream come true.

She said it comprises of three key elements to the Crown’s design, with layers of metal creating a modern image linked to the basic principles of Grwp Cynefin.

“Our culture is maintained through our communities: in these homes our people, our language and our culture thrive. This is the basis of the Crown, the tallest and strongest part,” she said.

Accepting the Chair and the Crown on behalf of the National Eisteddfod Trystan Lewis, chair of the local executive committee, said: "It is a great pleasure to accept the Crown and the Chair on behalf of this year’s Eisteddfod.

"The ceremonies are two of the week’s highlights, and we sincerely hope that we will have two worthy winners for the Crown and Chair in a few weeks’ time.

"Our thanks to Angela Evans for her beautiful work on the Crown and to Grwp Cynefin and John Arthur and Margaret Glyn Jones for their generosity.

“We also thank Gwenan Jones for her work on the Chair, and the Caernarfonshire and Denbighshire Branches of the Farmers Union of Wales and the family of Gwynfor ab Ifor for their donations. I thank you on behalf of the Committee, the Eisteddfod and the county of Conwy.”

The Crowning ceremony takes place on Monday, August 5 at 4.30pm and Chairing ceremony on Friday, August 9, also at 4:30pm.

The Conwy County National Eisteddfod is held on the outskirts of Llanrwst from 3-10 August.

More details about the Eisteddfod online or by ringing 0845 4090 800.