Page 22 - JOAApril21

The Blacksmith

by Melody Amsel-Arieli
Under a spreading armor, and horse gear. In Early 18th century, 10î edge
chestnut-tree addition to creating crucially Saxon Miner’s Guild Ax, haft
important agricultural imple- inlaid with white stag horn
The village smithy ments like iron-pronged scrimshawed plaques depicting
stands; pitchforks, harrows, and miners at work and worship.
plowshares, they forged dated 1723, initialed I.T.H.,
The smith, a mighty hearthside hooks, tripods, realized $1,320 in 2020.
man is he, cleavers, choppers, flesh photo: Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
forks, roasting jacks, and
With large and sinewy mini-cranes (which swung
hands; pots away flame). Through
more innovative techniques,
And the muscles of his they also fashioned cast-iron

brawny arms cooking pots, cauldrons, and
kettles. Because these works
Are strong as iron were so costly, they were not only repaired repeatedly,
bands but often passed from one generation to the next.
Initially, many forged pieces were left unadorned.
– The Village Blacksmith,
As their craft evolved, however, blacksmiths often
Longfellow, 1842 became more imaginative. Scottish broad swords, for
instance, sometimes featured prominent initials as part
Image: The Village Blacksmith by Thomas of their pierced hilt designs. Broad, ironclad doors and
Hovenden (American (born Ireland),
Dunmanway 1840–1895 Plymouth Meeting, iron-wrapped chests, in addition to offering security
Pennsylvania) and protection, commonly featured pleasing ornamen-
tation. In time, architectural elements, like railings,
window grilles, banisters, fireguards, and garden gates, often
lacksmiths have wrought objects from iron for thousands of bore ornate, scrolled, flowered, or lattice-like designs.
years. Metalworking, however, harks back further still. Egyptian Functional fireplace andirons typically featured graceful,
Bartisans, for example, worked gold and copper, which occur in turned finials above handsome, scrolled feet. Pierced ladles
nearly pure states. Lacking knowledge, however, they could not access displayed finely engraved handles, while forks and skewers
iron from minerals like magnetite and hematite. included delicate scrolling adorned with charming, wound-
So discovering an iron dagger in the 3300-year-old tomb of wire hearts. Additionally, chandeliers, wall cartouches, and
the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun was beyond belief. However, sconces sometimes featured bits of ornamental ironwork.
through advanced x-ray techniques, scientists determined Demand for wrought iron reached its peak at
that it had been formed from metal auspiciously rained down Rare British the height of the Industrial Revolution, especially
9.5” x 11”
from heaven—an iron meteorite. decorative iron for building bridges, railway tracks, steam
horseshoe forged by locomotives, and ironclad warships. Blacksmiths
Ingenuity, Breadth, and Depth Robert Fitzsimmons also wrought everything from nails, nuts,
(later unprecedented chains, rivets, wire, and wagon wheels to
of Iron Workings
winner of 3 world stoves, grates, locks, lanterns, torch holders,
titles), while apprenticed tools, smoothing irons, and goffering irons
A millennia later, the Hittites discovered that smelt- to his blacksmith father, – which fashioned frills and flounces in
ing (high-heat melting) iron-rich minerals extracted realized $836.50 starched linen.
workable iron oxide. Their deadly iron daggers, swords, in 2012
photo: Heritage Auctions
spears, and chariot enhancements, unlike earlier, brittle Forging in the New World
bronze ones, withstood shattering on impact. Moreover,
when mended, they became stronger still. As a result, the Hittites Across Colonial America, where
not only scourged neighboring tribes but ushered in the Iron Age. iron ore occurs in abundance, blacksmiths
As this earth-shaking technology spread, blacksmiths, named for the smelted, smithed, and mended work, agricul-
black-iron goods they forged, flourished in communities worldwide. tural, and domestic tools vital to the fledgling
Their tools—small smelting furnaces, hand-forged implements that nation. Some labored at isolated points along
drew, bent, punched, rolled, and flattened glowing-hot creations on popular travel routes, offering on-the-spot,
anvils—were simple. Yet to many, transforming crumbled stones into horse-related and carriage repair services.
amazingly durable, life-saving objects seemed almost magical. In fact, in Others, lured by homes and free land as
some societies, they were accused of witchery. incentives, set up their dark, smoky shops on
Through the Middle Ages, a Halberd, 84" shaft featuring the edge of rural communities.
time of great warfare, black- 14" spearhead and 7.5" axe Their work was long, hot, and hard. After
smiths routinely wrought an head, realized $406 in 2020 stoking and lighting their forges, they maxi-
innumerable number of arms, photo: Cowan's Auctions, Inc.
mized their heat by blasting them with hand-
held bellows. Once their
fires roared, they heated Early hand-forged,
bits of smelted iron from hammered nails
and dice

20 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles