Metal Art and the History of Decorative Metal Works

In ancient Egypt, the Egyptians knew the artistic ways of forming decorative metal objects from bronze and metal. In Rome and Greece, there were magnificent statues cast in bronze and there was furniture made from metal. And household utensils including toilet fittings were produced using alloys of copper and iron.

Metal Works of the Middle Ages

In Europe during the Medieval Period, locksmiths and metal workers took pride in their craft as they expended much care and effort in crafting items such as hardware, screens, gates and heavy grilles for the Cathedral Churches. During this period, it was a typical sight to see heavy hardwood doors hung on elaborate and ornate scroll patterned hinges.

Ladies had their metal craft of gold and silver jewel boxes, crucifixes, reliquaries (small receptacle made to hold sacred relics), and other objects of the faith which were crafted to exquisite perfection by the monks in their monastery cells.

Other beautiful metal art were produced with ornamental precious metals enhanced with jewels or enamel motifs.

The Plateresco period was named so, as a mark of honour to Spanish silversmiths whose beautiful metal works influenced other craftsmen working in other mediums apart from metal. During the Spanish and Italian renaissance, more emphasis was placed on metal ware like heavy bronze door handles/knockers, lanterns, candlesticks, metal gates and lighting fixtures.

Their efforts were geared more towards the decorative and enhancing aspects of metal as opposed to the operative/protective uses of the Middle Age people’s door hinges and other metal ware.

During the Italian Renaissance, metal workers made extraordinary reproductions of miniature classical statues that were meant for interior decoration. The process of production was the "lost wax" or cire-perdue process.

These tiny beauties were initially made using a wax figure of the models, but this art was soon lost in the making of bronze casting. The process of production involved the making of wax models delicately and painstakingly carved by hand and then covered with a layer of molten clay and left to harden.

When perfectly dry, the object was heated so the wax can melt and drain out through a small hole. This results in a cast whereby liquid bronze is filled and left to set. When cool, the clay mould must be broken to reveal the bronze object.

During this period, it was mandatory that the clay mould be destroyed to avoid the sculptor repeating the exact design for someone else without having to produce a new clay cast.

In France, the peak of the art of metal crafting occurred simultaneously with her pinnacle of decorative art works. They produced gilded bronze furniture enhancements, andirons, and clocks in ormolu (cast bronze ornaments surfaced with gold) that reached near perfection in design, form and finish but soon headed for a decline by the early 19th century.

Metals used for interior décor works in both America and England followed similar patterns and lines. In the 17th century, both countries had hardware products made in wrought iron, but far more thought was put into the English designs than that of the Americans.

In America, utility was the main consideration and the local blacksmith made mostly latches, bolts and hinges. On the other hand, in England, fireplace accessories for example were made using iron enhanced with brass ornamentation which enriched the lesser metal.

The 18th century was the silver tableware era and it was not uncommon to see silverware and other metal based ornaments in both countries. France seized the opportunity of the English and American passion for ormolu and exported shelf clocks and other decorative ornaments that had great appeal to the American and English public.

Decorative Metal Art - Copper, Brass and Bronze

Metal Art - Decorative Uses of Iron, Tin and Lead

There are ten different basic metals that were used traditionally, and even today. They are:

1. Gold
2. Silver
3. Aluminium
4. Magnesium
5. Chromium
6. Zinc
7. Tin
8. Lead
9. Iron
10. Copper

Some of the metals listed above lack the required qualities needed for decorative arts and are often combined with other metals to form alloys. The alloys then formed have the advantageous qualities of the combined metals.

there are a large number of different alloys, but the main ones are:

Bronze - is made with a combination of tin and copper, but sometimes with a mix of phosphorous and zinc.

Brass - is made with a combination of copper, tin, and zinc.

Pewter - is made mainly of tin with additions of bismuth, antimony or copper. Modern pewter which is of an inferior quality from classic pewter contains some lead.

There are a number of metal objects valued for their intricate workmanship, form and design, even though they may not be made from precious metals such as silver and gold. They are objects of high decorative value with many of them labeled as collectors’ items.

Decorative metal art as these include:

• Table silver (antique silverware, tankards, porringers, kettles, chocolate pots, punch bowls, etc.).
• Pewter (drinking vessels, dishes, candlesticks, table and ornamental ware, etc.).
• Sheffield plate (tableware, and other products imitating silverware).
• Firebacks (made of cast iron with ornamental motifs of ships, mythical creatures, trees, coats of arms, family events, etc.).
• Brass (small metal ornaments, statues, finished hardware, etc.).
• Copper (fireplace accessories, candlesticks, clocks, etc.).
• Hardware (e.g. escutcheons, handles, latches, locks, etc.).

Silver and gold are the most valuable (in terms of monetary) metals of the lot and are mainly used for jewelry, ornaments, and as plating or surfacing materials for baser metals.

• History of Pottery and Ceramics - Earthenware, Porcelain & China Ware
• Prehistory Periods - Cave Art of The Prehistoric Man
• Earthenware Pottery - Classic Delftware Ceramic Art
• Classic Ceramic Art: Earthenware, Porcelain & China-ware Pottery

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