Colour at last?

Over the last 35 years due to an aversion to the ubiquitous black paint on decorative ironwork, I have experimented with a few finishes on forged metals. The most satisfactory to date had been my 'old lead' finish which combines excellent protection and a super matt, mottled grey appearance that I love.

Many examples can be seen at www.andrew-findlay.com. There are however situations where intense colour would be wholly appropriate, but I have struggled to find a sufficiently durable and lasting method of coloration. Until now.

I have discovered a method of applying vitreous enamel to stainless steel which opens up a whole new world of painterly effects. Enamel is essentially a layer of molten glass which has adhered to the metal. The glass is coloured by the addition of metal oxides. and fused to the metal by heat.

Below is a sample of enamelled copper.

Watch this space for further developments.. 

Out of the blue, I recently received a request to demonstrate the craft of blacksmithing at The Metal Museum in Memphis, Tennesse. This is a great honour as the Museum has a similar status to the V&A museum here in the UK.

This came about from three work colleagues and friends who are members of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths putting my name forward for the Forging on the River event.
I'm sure it will be an unforgettable experience, and I will post a report on my return!!

See details of the Forging on the River event here


Also, a new sculpture exhibition for us, 'Elegance and Form' The Wyndcliffe Court spring sculpture show. The exhibition runs from Friday 3rd of April to Sunday 21st of June. The venue is 3miles south of Tintern, Monmouthshire

Click here for full details

This is an image of one of our exhibits in the walled garden.

Filligree arch and Planters

After 3 years, its so good to get some feedback!

Whats's happening at The Forge? Well we have recently received some amazing images of a job we completed in Dubai, below is a sample:

These are filligree doors to the customer's wine cellar, red on the left, white on the right. All in all we spent three and a half years on this project and I am very pleased with the finished result. We made eighty four window grilles in forged fig and seed pod design, 2 x 4m diameter domes for the roofs of the towers, many sets of doors and the crowning glory were the main entrance doors forged from solid bronze, along with a matching 3m square window.

This image looks up into the tower to the dome at the top.

Main entrance doors

Just a small sample of the work done which included staircases and many square metres of balustrading.

Next post will be about our historic forge and a new beautiful woodland forge we are setting up for courses!