Wrought Iron
A note about Wrought Iron
There is some confusion out there as to the meaning of the term "wrought iron". Nowadays it's mostly used as a shorthand to refer to any old steel that is worked by hand, such as wrought iron gates or railings. However, in a historical sense the term refers to a specific type of iron product that exhibits a number of particular qualities. The most common of these is the presence of a "grain" in the material, evidence of the manufacturing method that produced it. Some of it is very coarse and easily visible, and some is quite fine. In either case, the material is not a homogenous mass like with modern steels. It is this variation within the material that makes it sought after by many modern smiths, as there is a limited supply of antique iron out there and very few bother to make new iron this way anymore.
A small tsuba made as part of a comprehensive build, this is meant to be mounted on a small sword but I think I prefer it on its own. Much of the texture on the face of the piece is simply the structure of the material itself, I did my best to add a little without getting in the way. The little snail friend in the corner is an inlay - the shell is carved mild steel, and the body is carved and textured fine silver.
This side features a recently sprouted set of poison ivy leaves. I wanted to convey a sense of folding downwards and a subdued feeling. The sword this belongs to has an early spring night theme, and the concept of life finally stirring and ready to flourish but still laboring under the weight of the previous season appealed to me. The leaves are mild steel, and the stem is a different variety of wrought iron from the base.
Nice close-up shot showing off the fairly straight yet crunchy grain in this material. I am very happy I was able to forge it down to these fine dimensions without compromising the material.
A piece inspired by the Maori matau, a type of fishing lure that looks for all the world like a fish hook, doesn't actually hook anything, but still catches fish all the same. This piece would be a poor tool, but I think it will make a fine necklace pendant.
An alternate view showing the slight twist running down the length of the "hook" portion.
Two wrought hotcakes baking at the edge of the forge.
A half-round band of wrought iron bent into what will become a bracelet, sitting next to a hardie tool I made to forge the material into the proper cross section.
This particular piece has an unusual grain to it - there are sections of very fine grain butted up against very coarse yet flowing portions.
This piece was inspired by the seemingly ubiquitous jade and stone discs found in ancient China. There are quite a few examples in museums of wonderfully shaped and polished discs with no known "use". I feel the use is far less important than the satisfaction that comes from handling it.
This particular piece has an unusual grain to it - there are sections of very fine grain butted up against very coarse yet flowing portions.