Pieh Tool

Italian ironwork from Roman times, through Medieval centuries, and up to Neo Classical designs of the early nineteenth century comprise this collection of 100 photographs from Italian sources. They depict trellises, grilles, gates, fencing, household lighting, fireplace accoutrements, and door hardware that will inspire today's designers. Their origins in hill towns of Ialy are recorded for many images. This is authentic ironwork for contractors, decorators, and homeowners to enjoy.

1997 Exhibition Catalog

National Metal Museum
Memphis, TN

Sele\ct Works from 1991-1997

John Marshall heads the art department at the University of Washington in Seattle where he has taught since 1970. He is a founding member of the Society of North American Goldsmiths, an Artisan member of the Society of American Silversmiths and a member of the College of Fellows in Metal at the American Craft Council. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Cleveland Institute of Arts and a Masters from Syracuse University.

During his distinguished career, Marshall has exhibited widely in the United States and abroad. Commissions have been central to his productivity. Marshall prefers not to be associated with galleries because he enjoys dealing directly with the people who will own his work. Patrick Lannan was one of his most important patrons. The sculptures he commissioned were on a scale so large that Marshall began to employ hydraulics to manipulate the six foot sterling silver sheets from which they there made! Glacier, the largest of the series, measures 3' x 4' x 5'.

The 24 photos of John's pieces in this catalog are absolutely gorgeous, and rightfully so!

Mattenklott

With an Essay by Gert Mattenklott

"Karl Blossfeldt's interest in the plant world was of an artistic and didactic nature: he was fascinated by the structure of plants, their organic configuration, and their lofty artistic form. He wanted to illustrate and compare in a photographic style that could be described as strictly objective, almost graphic.

His goal was to to create a catalogue of forms for the benefit of artists, artisans, and above all, architects. This then would provide them with a book of instruction and models to guide them in their designs." 

Plant life has for ever had a strong influence on blacksmith designs. From these pictures flows a forceful stream of inspirations also to the modern  blacksmith.

Hans Christian Adam

Taschen 25th Anniversary

German photography pioneer Karl Blossfeldt (1865-1932) photographed plants so beautifully, and with such originality, that his work transcends the medium itself. Over more than 30 years, he took thousands of photographs, revealing a formally rigorous talent whose precision and dedication bridge the nineteenth and twentieth century worlds of image making and bring a distinctly sculptural aspect to a firmly two-dimensional art form. Beautifully but starkly composed against plain cardboard backgrounds, Blossfeldt's images, relying on a northern light for their sense of volume, reveal nothing of the man but everything of themselves. They are still-lifes, piercingly final statements on their subject, and have endured owing to their technical brilliance and the ongoing fascination of students and photographers. Like their maker, they are quietly and lastingly effective.

HEPHAISTOS

This is "the magazine" to the European sculptors and designers and covers their exhibitions. This exhibition was in Immenstadt in the Allgäu in 2002. The cover shows a large metal sculpture depicting life positively as an echo on the water. With an abundance of outstanding photos of all issued work, detailed information on material and technology as well as detailed portrait of all involved metal designers. It delivers a colorful kaleidoscope of the styles with representatives of all generations. In addition there is a detailed supplement with a list of all issuers and its addresses.

This book depicts over 50 unique pieces of African forged metal work that was shown at the University of North Carolina during th summer of 1998.  This is a well-illustrated book covering dimensions, composition and history, as well as, a listing of exhibitors represented. This exceptional exhibition had been organized by Tom Joyce, a blacksmith from Santa Fe, New Mexico. The exhibition contained 115 pieces of forged metal work from areas south of the Sahara Desert in Africa contributed by various collectors. The exhibit had been underwritten by UNCA and by ABANA. Tom Joyce says of the pieces in the exhibit: ". I selected the pieces to accentuate their esthetic qualities, to appreciate them as art alone is to separate the realities they activate and the ideology of the groups they express.

Zastrow

Spending time with over 40 outdoor metal artists, Nancy visits well-established smiths, as well as those less wee-know, and talks about their art, inspiration, and the challenges in doing outdoor metal work. Traveling the East Coast from New England to Florida, Nancy shares that indefinable magic the artists add to their sites and makes the reader smile. She focuses on how ironwork can actually enhance the environment by being a part of it! A beautiful book presented with class!

This magnificent display of all 166 plates from an extremely rare set of portfolios depicts scores of examples of the ironworker's art, among them beautiful gates, balustrades, balcony railings, window grilles, church screens, and lantern holders. A superb collection of royalty-free images for use by designers, architecture enthusiasts, and lovers of antiques.

Unabridged reprint of Documents de Ferronnerie Ancienne de la Seconde Moitie du XVI-II Siecle, Series 1-4. Originally published by F. Contet, Paris, 1908-12.

Pedrini

Spanning five centuries of magnificent ironwork designs by Italian masters, this superb archive encompasses both simple and elaborate ornamentation for doors, windows, gates, balconies, stairs, and other architectural features.A remarkable variety of motifs are depicted--from gracefully executed florals and foliated elements to striking portrayals of mythical beasts.

Bricker and Nogai

Inspired by the romance of Italian villas, Spanish farmhouses, and Moorish courtyards, the Mediterranean Revival style became an archetype for sophisticated suburban homes throughout America in the early 20th century.

The characteristic white stucco house, roofed with terra-cotta and ornamented with ironwork, decorative tiles, and fountains, remains the dominant style for new residences in California, the Southwest, and Florida. The Mediterranean house’s longevity is rooted in an overall simplicity and an emphasis on the outdoors. Its central courtyard, terraces, and loggias provide a fluidity between interiors and exteriors equally prized by the architects of ancient Pompeii and groundbreaking modernists.

Provides the first comprehensive survey of this popular style, beautifully illustrated in full-color photographs by Juergen Nogai, archival photos, and drawings.

Elgass

The yearbook of Hephaistos is a useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos.

The 1999 edition showcases the work of the following master smiths: Udo Vogel (Germany), Bengt Gustafsson(Sweden), Heribert Nusser(Germany), Christoph Friedrich(Switzerland), Matthias Peters (Germany), Takayoshi Komine (Japan), Karel Meloun (Czech Republic), Walfrid Huber (Austria).

The yearbook of Hephaistos is a useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos. useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos.

The 2000 edition showcases the work of the following master smiths: Klaus Dommers (Germany), Vladimir  okhonevitch (Russia), Paul Zimmermann (Germany), Hans Tritscher (Austria), manfred Bredohl (Germany), Tom Joyce (New Mexico, USA), Alfred Bullermann (Germany), Giovanni Zeppieri (Italy). Following is an excerpt from the preface of the 2000 edition: "...great importance has to be attached to regional and local idiosyncrasies, to sedentary roots, which have been inherent in blacksmiths since times immemorial.

Elgass

The yearbook of Hephaistos is a useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos. useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos.

The 2001 edition showcases the work of the following master smiths: Karl Schlecht (Germany), Gabriele Curtolo (Italy), Harmann Gradinger (Germany), Antony Robinson (UK), Achim Kuhn (Germany), Serge Marchal (France), Andreas Rimkus (Germany), Karel Bures (Czech Republic).

Elgass

The yearbook of Hephaistos is a useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos. useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos.

The 2002 edition showcases the work of the following master smiths: Phil Johnson (Scotland), Risto Immonen  Finland), Hans-Ueli Baumgartner (Switzerland), Helmut Brummer (Germany), Ulrich Schmied (Germany), Manfred Bergmeister (Germany), Simon Benetton (Italy).

The yearbook of Hephaistos is a useful, and praiseworthy annual project of photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. Each annual, in fact, contains hundreds of high-quality photos.

The 2003 yearbook of Hephaistos cover works and biographies of 9 outstanding European metal artists with German with English translations. Peter Elgass opens with a commentary about modern design pirates patenting the ideas of others. Italian, Claudio Bottero's original ideas and techniques with iron are presented in the annual. Claudio demonstrated stretching and upsetting techniques in bowls and sculptures after an interesting technique of first cutting patterns into plate.

Because the media claims the blacksmithing trade is dead, the 2004 yearbook presents more forge-work and less metal design.  However, the economic upturn in Europe still has to be nurtured, so that no boom into for-work can be felt.  The art of forging has always been rather popular in the United States and the United Kingdom.  Brian Russell and Paul Margetts represent the British line while in Daniel Miller they present an American who can be considered a philosopher on the anvil without reservations.  Although not conservative he is highly interesting in his versatility and the use of shapes.  A young blacksmith Martin Breidenbach represents Bavaria and Edda Sandstede, the first German woman on the anvil represents northern German blacksmiths.  This year once again shows that two hundred pages is not nearly enough to show the large variety and creativity of the international scene as a whole.

Elgass

Metall Design International Books are the yearbook of Hephaistos. They are a praiseworthy annual project photographically documenting the work of several different master blacksmiths from around the world. Each annual has a brief biography of the smiths and a large number of beautiful photographs of their work. They contain hundreds of high-quality photos. Text in German and English.

This yearbook is the "most youthful" of all those published up to now as we found two young blacksmiths in Lithuania and England which still are at the beginning of their professional career and nonetheless can look back on a variety of works like others after a decade. The book also has the courage to present two "outsiders" among the metal designers and to mention them in between the grand-masters of their craftsmanship. HEPHAISTOS presents: Paul Elliot (GB), Manfred Fattler und Dirk Höller (D), Willem Jonkers III. (Nl) Vladimir Pulis (SK), Hannes Turba (A) und Linas Lesciauskas (LIT).

Elgass

The ninth issue of the HEPHAISTOS yearbook, presents the work of eight internationally outstanding metal artists: - Albert Paley (the USA) - Terrence Clark (GB) - Michael Haase (D) - Lothar Klute (D) - Lars Larsson (s) - January Odvarka (CZ) - Brad Silberberg (the USA) - Torsten Theel (D). Albert Paley ranks among the most well-known and most important metal artists at present. Particularly because of its sculptures and gates he creates. Many English-language books concerning Paley are nearly completely out of print. Our yearbook concentrates therefore particularly on recent work of Paleys and his metal organization within the applied range. An American metal artist in completely different color is Brad Silberberg, one of the prominent smiths of the United States. For over 25 years he has worked with metal and just a few years ago predominantly architectural forging work and furniture manufacturing. Today he devotes time in the workshop to objects, sculptures of art-relating to crafts, decoration and mobiles, which he uses as "transformation tools".

Elgass

In 2008, the HEPHAISTOS yearbook series is celebrating its tenth edition. For the anniversary, they have once again been able to bring outstanding metal designers and promising newcomers together in one volume. The protagonists are Manfred Becher, Vladan Behal, Norbert Finke, Francisco Gazitua, Roberto Giordani, Paul Kreten, and Thijs van de Manakker.

The Netherlands native Thijs van de Manakker is a top-class experimental archaeologist who personifies the origins of the blacksmith trade in modern times like no other. "MetalDesign International 2008" invites readers to explore how his experiments surrounding 2000 years of the blacksmith trade influence his metal designs.

In just a few years, Vladan Behal from Olomouc, who lives and works alternately in Czechia and Italy, has developed from a blacksmith, to an artist, to a designer. For the very first time, the HEPHAISTOS yearbook presents the designs and furnishings such as lamps, furniture, and vases to the general public in the form of a book.