The Contemporary Blacksmith

Title: The Contemporary Blacksmith

Author: Dona Z. Meilach;
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Atglen, PA; 2000
256 pages, hundreds of black & white and color photographs; an Appendix containing a Selected Bibliography, Resources, and Suppliers; and an index
Price :$49.95

If you would like to see what is the state of modern blacksmithing primarily in the United States, but in other parts of the world as well, this is the book for you. Dona Meilach, a prolific writer and an art and craft historian, sent out a call to the blacksmithing community for examples of what blacksmiths are working on now. She received back over 3000 photographs which had to be winnowed down to less than 500 – truly a daunting task.

When you first get the book, you start by just looking at the pictures; next you go back and look at the pictures again but this time you stop to read the captions; finally you start to read the text that goes along with the pictures and realize that there is a wealth of information there also. This is a book to go back to over and over when you need ideas and/or inspiration. The book is expensive, but it is one of those books which is worth the expense.

The book is organized by chapter covering the following topics: The Artist Blacksmith: Past & Present; Tools, Techniques, & Safety Cautions; Architectural Ironwork; Sculpture; Vessels & Containers; Furniture; Lighting; Fireplace Accessories; Specialty Objects; Blade Smithing (with an introduction by Daryl Meier); Artists’ Statements.

The quality of the photography is superb. For many of the items, in addition to the main picture, there are close ups, showing details of the item. Occasionally in the background of the picture, you see parts of the blacksmith’s shop/studio. I found myself trying to make out the tooling, and shop layout shown in those pictures.

The final chapter has no pictures – just words. They are the statements of the blacksmiths reflecting on their work. I want to share one of those statements.

Toby Hickman, Petaluma, California. “I love to hit hot steel. My entire career is an attempt to get some one to pay me to forge. Craftsmanship, design and skill are all a by-product of that one basic need to hit hot steel. “

I have seen Toby demonstrate. The exuberance for “hitting hot steel” comes across in his demonstrations. You look at the pictures of Toby’s work in the book and you get that same sense of need and delight as comes across in his statement. I could have picked other blacksmiths to quote here, but as I sat writing this book review, Toby’s need to “hit hot steel” struck a strong chord with me and that led me to include his statement .

If you can’t be out forging at your anvil, studying this book is almost the next best thing.

Book review by Albin Drzewianowski

-- AlbinDrzewianowski - 18 Dec 2007