By: Carol Belanger Frafton – Published 1992
Price : $ – Amazon
Philip’s Ranking: 3
Beginner Blacksmith: 0
Advanced Blacksmith: 3
Inspiration: 5
Historical: 3
Video Review: N/A
The images in this book are a compilation of works from the fitch Catalogue of MacFarlane’s Castings, L’Art Pour Tous, Harper’s Monthly, Art Journal, Illustrated London News and catalogues from the Seville firm of Antonio Aguilar, among other sources. The book covers examples from the Middle Ages through Art Nouveau and every time period in-between.
At 123 pages and with with 469 individual drawings there is a tremendous number of illustrations that can be used to draw inspiration from to recreate a work or use components of it in your own project.
What this book doesn’t have is any text aside from a 1 page introduction or information about the sources of each work. Considering this book draws from such a large time frame and multiple sources it would be really nice if the book referenced where the ultimate source was.
Scanning through the pages the major types of ironwork seem to include:
- Fence Railings
- Gates
- Ornamental / Decorative Components
- Architectural
- Awnings
- Doors
- Window Grills
- Balcony Railings
- Staircase Railings
- Columns
- Roof Toppers
- Church Ironwork
Like other books in the Dover series this is a great resource to pull inspiration from by reviewing some of the best ironwork from the past.
It will be most useful to professional blacksmiths or anyone who’s designing fencing, staircases, or window treatments.