1*2.1 rorv^or ^y/lHDL.^f €mntl\ Wmwtttig jp«g * /b , BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OP Henrg W. Sage 1891 AfSin.. ^/tL arV17701 Bent ironwork. Cornell University Library 3 1924 031 304 763 olin.anx IliP B Cornell University k -; Ml bf Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031304763 BENT IRONWORK Bent Ironwork FOR BEGINNERS AND PROFICIENTS BY AMANDA SANDERS WITH FIFTY-FIVE ILLUSTRATIONS BY THE A UTHOR LONDON : CHAPMAN AND HALL, Ld. i895 % \AU rights rescwed] Richakd Clay and Sons, Limited, london and bungay. PREFACE THIS manual of Bent Iron Work is written for the amateur and the pupil ; but the lessons are progres- sive, and I should like to believe that the advanced student of the art and the practical worker may find in my pages some hints and considerations not unworthy of their attention. A large part of the book is devoted to the pro- duction of patterns, as the difficulty in procuring suitable designs sometimes discourages the worker who is unable or unwilling to make his own. In regard to the illustration of my book, I owe much to the suggestions of my friends and of my pupils. My thanks are especially due to Mr. Arthur Williams, through whose courtesy and kindness I vi PREFACE am enabled to reproduce many beautiful Venetian designs. The art of Bent Iron Work is essentially of Italian origin. In Venice it is practised to this day with greater success than elsewhere, and some of the best designs in this beautiful art are still of Venetian provenance. A. Sanders. LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIG. 1. Cutting Shears 2. Flat-nose Pliers 3. Round-nose Pliers... 4. Letter Rack 5. S-Curve (part of Letter Rack, Fig ■4) 6. C-Curve (part of Fig. 4) ... 7. Large C-Curve (part of Fig. 4) .. 8. Clasp for join 9. Connecting Strap (Fig. 4) 10. Vase Mount 1 1 . Matchbox Holder 12. " Spider " Candlestick 13. Candlestick 14. Photograph Frame 15 Fern or Flower Pot 16. Teapot Stand 17. Wall Bracket 18. Fruit or Cake Dish 19. Vase 20. Candlestick... 21. Candle Bracket 22. Flower Vase 23. Pipe Rack 23A. Pipe Rack complete PAGE 5 S 6 7 8 9 9 10 10 11 12 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 viii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS FIG. PAGE 24,25. Panel and Bottom for Basket... ... ... ... ... 27 26. Hanging Bucket ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 28 27. Candle Bracket. This should be made of the widest iron, and nailed to a piece of wood, as in Fig. 21... ... ... 29 28. Candlestick ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 29. Small Hanging Lamp and Bracket ... ... 31 30. Newspaper Rack ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32 3 1 . Hanging Lamp and Bracket ... ... ... 33 32. Chain for Hanging Lamp ... 34 33. 34, and 35. Panels suitable for Grilles ... 35 36. Sanctuary Lamp ... ... ... 37 37. Table Lamp 38 38. Candelabra Pendant with Chain ... ... ... ... ... 39 39. Phpto Frame ... ... 40 40. Ditto ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 41. Stand for Vase or Pot ... ... ... ... ... ... 41 42. 43, and 44. Mounts for Vases ... ... ... ... ... 41 45, 46, and 47. Ditto 42 48. Mount for Plate 42 49. Stand with Hanging Basket 43 50. Bracket ... ... ... 44 51. Fire Screen... 45 52. Framework for Lamp ... 46 53- -Ditto 46 54- Ditto 47 55- Ditto 48 INTRODUCTION THE art of working decoratively in Bent Iron is one of recent introduction and increasing favour. It is essentially an art for the home circle, its practice is not accompanied by noise or mess, and though not exactly easy — since no art that is worth practising is easy — it is at least not difficult of acquisi- tion by any pupil who will give time and trouble to learning the elements, who possesses deft fingers and a taste and eye for decorative form. There are but three or four tools required, and the material itself is prepared and sold by special manu- facturers. It is cheap, and it can be converted to most exquisite decorative purposes without the ex- penditure of any excessive force. Besides the simplicity of materials and ease with which they can be procured, the work possesses other attractions. It can be taught to children. With boys it is extremely popular ; and some years spent in teaching it among National and Board School boys 2 BENT IRONWORK and the ordinary working-lads, varying in age from eight to eighteen years, has convinced me that it should take a prominent place in the technical edu- cation of our schools. Work of this kind not only teaches skill in handling tools, but it does a very great deal to train the eye and educate the taste. Apart from such considerations it forms a delightful home recreation. A more serious consideration to urge in favour of Bent Iron Work is that it is, in the true sense of the word, an industry. The productions of the Bent Iron worker can be sold with a profit. The worker at this art has the satisfaction of knowing that he is not con- tributing to the vast mass of the so-called art-at-home products that encumber our bazaar and charity sales and little suburban drawing-rooms with ephemeral objects of horror — poker work, panels, macrame fringes, crochet mats, painted drain pipes, crinkled paper lamp shades, sunflower pincushions, and all the rest of it. In the following pages I have carefully avoided recommending the worker to manufacture his own frames, stocks, and supports, or to attempt any rivetting, soldering, or other work that belongs by rights only to the smithy or forge, chiefly because I want the work to be brought within the reach of all, and not to be restricted to those few who possess workshops — though so much the better if one has BENT IRONWORK 3 that good fortune. The stocks, frames, and supports are so very inexpensive to buy ; and, if not kept by the tool-dealers mentioned, any smith will make them at a short notice. Bent Iron Work as set forth in these pages can be practised by women or boys who have not the strength required for forge-work ; and can even be worked in a drawing-room without damage to carpet or furniture, if the table used is carefully covered with a thick piece of brown paper. Venice is accepted as the place of origin of Bent Iron Work, and we certainly get more examples from there than from any other part of Italy. The exact date of its origin is not easily fixed, but it is generally believed to be quite modern. We can trace a likeness to much of it in the old forged work. This can be clearly seen in the Venetian seventeenth-century link chain (Fig. 32), the wings of which were without doubt curved with tools similar to those we use to-day. It may have occurred to the Venetian smith while filling in some light work to his heavy forged frames that by itself this light pincer-work could well be used to advantage. However, this is but supposition, as we have no written history of such modern work. B 2 BENT IRONWORK Hints on Teaching. A few practical hints on class teaching may be acceptable to those who contemplate turning their knowledge to that account. (a). Not more than ten individuals should be to- gether in one class. (J?). Take some easy pattern at first ; if .possible, one that can be finished in one lesson. (c). A flat diagram of the pattern on paper or card- board, with the lengths of the curves distinctly marked on it, should be distributed to every one or two work- ers. A model of the same, worked out in iron, should be placed on the table or bench so that all could use it for inspection and reference. (d). As much encouragement as possible should be given in the first lesson. (e). Visit each worker in turn right through the class. Materials. The iron is sold in strips 24" in length varying in width from £" to over 1". It can be purchased from Melhuish and Son, 85, Fetter Lane ; The Army and Navy Stores ; A. Williams, 83, Hammersmith Road, and a few other shops, for 8d., or gd., per pound. The wrought-iron frames and stocks mentioned in the BENT IRONWORK 5 book, as well as tools — in fact every requisite — can be bought at either of these places. The glasses, copper vases, lamps, &c, given as patterns can be obtained at suitable shops in almost any town. Iron wire is occasionally wanted; two pennyworth lasts a long time, and can be bought at any ironmonger's. Tools. Three tools are necessary: viz., (i) a pair of shears for cutting the iron (Fig. i ), f long is a useful size (cost about is. 6d.) ; (2) a pair of "flat -nose" pliers for joining and straightening (Fig. 2), and (3) a pair of " round-nose " pliers for making the curves (Fig. 3) Fig. 1. —Cutting Shears. Fig. 2.— Flat-nose Pliers. 6 BENT IRONWORK (cost, from 6d. to is. each pair). Of course the number of tools can be increased at the discretion of the individual worker. Fig. 3. — Round-nose Pliers. A hammer and bradawl are sometimes needed for boring holes in the iron. Blackening. After the iron is made up, to preserve it from rust while maintaining the character of iron, it is best to paint it all over with a dead black. A good and inex- pensive mixture is made by mixing four pennyworth of Berlin Black with two pennyworth of Drop Black ; the latter must be ground to a powder, dissolved in turpentine, and added to the Berlin Black. The Drop Black tends to give a dull look to the paint, more or less can be used according to the dulness required. The paint should be applied with a camel-hair brush. BENT IRONWORK Instructions. Supposing the beginner to have his tools : it is well to make a few suggestions as to the iron required to start with. Five pounds of iron in the following sizes will be material enough ; £ lb. |" ; J lb. £" ; 2 lb. f " ; 2 lb. \" ; and two pennyworth of iron wire. Pattern 1 (Fig. 4). — Now, to start, choose a simple pattern such as the Letter Rack (Fig. 4). The medium- 6Yd Fig. 4.— Letter Rack. 8 BENT IRONWORK sized iron is used for this. Cut off four pieces each 9" long. To do this, hold the shears in the right hand at right angles to the iron and gradually bring the ends Fig. 5.— S-Curve (part of Letter Rack, Fig. 4). together, keeping them clear of the palm, otherwise a nasty pinch might result. Another way of breaking the iron — without the shears — is by holding it with the square pliers at the place to be broken, and with the left hand sharply bending the remainder of the strip up and down till it breaks off ; this is a most useful substitute for the shears and should be practised by all. Then turn them up to form the S-curves (Fig. 5). This is done by holding the piece of iron to be curved firmly in the left hand, taking the round-nose pliers in the right hand, and with them grasping the strip at the end and gradually bending it round to form the required curve ; when this is done take the opposite end and bend in the same way, holding it so that the curve will be an S- and not a C-. Practice will be required before the curves are quite perfect, BENT IRONWORK 9 but if faulty they can always be doctored up with the square-nose pliers, which if carefully applied will take out all the angles and kinks. Make the remaining three strips into S-curves in precisely the same way, testing them by placing one on the top of another and seeing that they are exactly the same size. Next cut four pieces 7" long, and turn up these to form C-curves (Fig. 6), and two pieces each 13" long into large C-curves (Fig. 7). Having these all made, we may proceed to join them together ; place two of the Fig. 6 ( C ^ curves back to back as in the ^-^ pattern (Fig. 4), break off a small strip of the narrowest (binding) iron long enough to form a clasp round the pieces to be joined, then with the square-nose pliers make a small hook at the end (Fig. 8). V J Hold the pieces to be joined firmly ^ S in the left hand, slip the hook round FlG - 6.-c : cw(part ' r of Fig. 4). them and give a pinch with the fd \ \J j ty.J. {CLA 34. an d 35 are panels adapted from examples in the Museum, and are suitable for grilles for cupboard-doors or screens. In each case the outer frame should be of forged iron and the other parts of the widest iron. The Sanctuary Lamp (Fig. 36) is worked out in BENT IRONWORK Fig. 36. —Sanctuary Lamp. Fig. 37.-fTable Lamp. Fig. 38;.— Candelabra Pen4ant with Chain. 4o BENT IRONWORK narrow iron, the C-curves are made in separate rings, i, 2, 3, &c, and afterwards joined to each other ; the small glass vessel for the oil can be purchased for a Fig. 39.— Photo Frame. Fig. 40. — Photo Frame. few pence. The bracket in this case is fixed into a four-pointed piece of thin sheet iron. Fig- 37 i s a mount for a copper lamp ; this, with ruby shade, can be bought at 85, Hammer- BENT IRONWORK 4i Fig. 41.— Stand for Vase or Pot. Fig. 42. Fig. 43. Fig. 44. Mounts for Vases. 42 BENT IRONWORK Fig. 46. Mounts for Vases. Fig. 47. Fig. 48.— Mount for Plate. BE'NT IRONWORK 43 Fig. 49. — Stand with Hanging Basket. smith Road, for prices upwards from 3.?. 6d. The widest iron should be used, and if the lamp is very 44 BENT IRONWORK massive the foundation of the mount should be forged iron. Fig. 38 shows two wings for a hanging candelabra ; the central upright and horizontal bars must be forged if the candelabra is to consist of four wings, though if Fig. 50.— Bracket. of two only the wide iron will be strong enough. Taken by itself one wing forms a good strong candle bracket. The framework, Fig. 52, of the lantern, Fig. 53, must be made by a smith. In the bottom a socket is fixed by which a candle or small Princess lamp is kept in place. The round glasses for the sides can be bought at Salviati's in Regent Street ; these are fitted Fig 5i.— Fire Screen. 4 6 BENT IRONWORK II Fig. 52. — Framework for Lamp. J (<7 Fig. 53. BENT IRONWORK 47 into rings of wide strip iron by means of little iron or tin clips (d) on the inside, and the meander or waved Fig. 54- circle of very narrow iron on the outside, so that the glass cannot possibly slip out of place ; these circles are connected with the framework by small curves in 4 8 BENT IRONWORK the corners. The two lanterns given as patterns are square — having three sides and a hinged door — but by altering the number of sides in the framework they can be made hexagonal or octagonal as wished. Fig. 55.