Ironwork, Decorative, usually consists of different lengths and thicknesses of iron rods that have been shaped into designs. Examples can be seen in doorknockers, gates, fences, fireplace screens, hinges, weather vanes, and grilles.
The most common designs are twists along the length of an iron rod. The ends of the rod may be curved or curled in a snakelike fashion, or they may be flattened, pointed, or looped. Other flat, round, and square pieces of metal may be welded onto the rod. The ironwork may have a textured surface formed by blows from a hammer.
Decorative ironwork was a popular craft through the early 1900’s. A blacksmith or ironworker created decorative ironwork by heating iron in a coal-fired furnace called a forge until the iron softened, and then hammered it into a design. By the mid-1900’s, handmade methods were largely replaced by industrial cast-iron procedures, which reproduced shapes quickly and inexpensively. Beginning in the late 1970’s, handmade decorative ironwork regained popularity. Today, craftworkers may re-create ancient and traditional decorations or develop new designs. They often receive commissions to create ironwork specifically for homes, hotel lobbies, museums, and office buildings.
