The Blacksmith is Back
Artist Blacksmiths make decorative and functional metalwork and sculpture - while Farriers shoe horses. People may be surprised to discover that the craft of the artist blacksmith is very much alive, well, and practised all over the world. In fact, there are far more blacksmiths working today than there were thirty years ago.
The craft of the Artist Blacksmith is based on the ancient principles of hot forging iron and steel, working with a fire, a hammer and an anvil. Forging provides a means of shaping and joining metal that invests it with a special quality and character, far removed from the mechanical qualities of cut and weld fabrication. But blacksmiths today do more than simply hammering. It is part of their business to visit clients, survey sites, discuss design ideas, provide individual design proposals and make drawings, in addition to making, finishing and installing the work. New methods like computer aided design, sophisticated welding and cutting systems, and power hammers have added to the capabilities of modern blacksmiths, but not compromised the hand skills that lie at the heart of the craft.
There are skilled blacksmiths who work in a traditional style, and many who seek a contemporary expression of the craft. This has lead to a new exploration of forging - not simply working iron, but stainless steel, copper, bronze and even titanium, sometimes combined with other materials like glass, wood or stone.
The work of blacksmiths covers an extraordinary range, both in scale and application. Blacksmiths today are making gates, railings and staircases; sculpture for city centres, private homes and gardens; chairs and tables, doorknockers, light fittings and hinges; bowls, bottle openers and jewellery.
This site is dedicated to promoting artist blacksmiths and the art of blacksmithing internationally. Here you can find the work of members of the Association, some from overseas; you can find a blacksmith in your area; you can join the organisation as a blacksmith, an amateur or an enthusiast, or (provided you live outside Great Britain) you can just subscribe to the magazine we publish. If you want to learn blacksmithing, you can discover full- and part-time training courses. You can buy books and visit hundreds of linked websites which together offer a window into the world of blacksmiths and blacksmithing. It's a wonderful world - enjoy your visit!