The Blacksmith and the Wrought Iron - an Etymology
The first of these terms, blacksmith, is derived from the two words, black and smite. Black refers to iron since that was the color of the metal (as compared with the colors of the commonly worked metals of that time: copper, bronze, gold and tin). Since the working of the iron involved hammering, the term smite was used. So we have the word blacksmith: the one who smites iron.
The term wrought has occasionally been used in the Bible “.... the King wrought his fury”; and is considered a past tense historical form of the verb to work. So wrought iron could generally be understood as the “metal that is worked”.
Now let's roll back the millennia and see how iron fits into the progress of men and metals.
The Copper Age
The Copper Age, (sometimes referred to as the Chalcolithic Age), and the working of other soft metals (such as gold, silver and tin) dates back to the fifth millennium BC. There is clear evidence of the forging of copper and other malleable metals with hammers within this period. By the end of this millennium, humankind had developed the skills of creating alloys, the first notable one being that of bronze, which is copper with around 15% of tin as an additive.
The Bronze Age
It was discovered that the gentle hammering of this new alloy, bronze, hardened it considerably. This opened up a whole new era for royalty, the only ones who could really afford this, and the military, whom they commanded. It is now known that this technique of gentle and sustained hammering changes the actual material structure. Because of its added strength, bronze then became the metal of choice particularly when it came to armament and weaponry as well as general tools. The casting and even riveting of both bronze and copper reached its peak towards the beginning of the fourth millennium BC. Incidentally it was in this millennium as well, that the wheel, and in particular the potter's wheel was invented. (Vehicles with wheels did not appear for several more centuries.)
The Iron Age
Iron ore itself was generally found naturally in the form of iron oxides though it would sometimes be mixed with sulphides. It is never really possible to find pure iron since it oxidises (or rusts) so readily. The Iron Age can be said to have commenced with the discovery or ability to smelt and extract iron from iron ore. It was within the region of Anatolia in Asia Minor that the Hittites first developed this skill. This dates to around the mid-second millennium BC (c. 1500 BC) though there are reports that some pieces of metal jewellery have been found that date back to the beginning of the second millennium BC. It was however the Hittites that established the practice of smelting iron, and it appears that they were able to keep their art a secret for several centuries. However from around 1200 BC, iron smelting, and so one can assume iron smiths, then appeared to be common in many areas. It has been hypothesised that this is linked to the decline of the political and military influence of the Hittites. Lacking the power to maintain their virtual monopoly, this knowledge of smelting iron was disseminated widely. Iron was prized for its greatest strength in comparison to bronze. However it suffered from corrosion or rust and so both metals were considered valuable for their different qualities. It is interesting to note that at that time, blacksmiths were respected artisans. Their ability to ‘conjure’ objects and weaponry from crude iron ore was regarded in much the same light as the revered alchemist.
Blacksmith Central for Social National and International Developments
Thus the scene was set for blacksmiths to continue their work through the proceeding millennia. They were an essential part of every community, providing tools and household utilities - everything from chopping axes and ploughs for the poor, to traditional wrought iron chandeliers and jewellery for the royalty and aristocracy. Their ability at producing ever more advanced weaponry ensured their high status and respect of leaders of state, government and the military. This respect continued for many centuries up until the ability for creating high temperatures within a factory process was invented.
Modern Blacksmiths - a Dying Breed
One of the most famous machines for melting iron in large quantities was the Bessemer converter, the prototype for which had become operational in 1855. The mass production of iron and steel became pivotal at this time of the Industrial Revolution in Europe. With the development of factories and their ability to create basic products cheaply and in large numbers, the position of the blacksmith within this industrializing society became less important and went into decline. Within the present 21st century, blacksmiths in the Western world are pretty much a dying breed. That is not 100% the case as you will get some niche artisans-cum-entrepreneurs who continue to forge iron in the traditional methods as a way of maintaining their art and for the few people who still want “the real thing”. Furthermore, sad as it may sound, most new products that are presently labelled “wrought iron” are technically speaking more likely to be a form of mild steel specially worked (or wrought) to give the appearance of wrought iron.
About the Author
Julian Pollock is the the main contributor to Chandelier-Mall, a popular home lighting guide which contains detailed analyses of all home lighting designs from crystal chandeliers to modern day wrought iron lighting.
