Wrought Iron and Its Decorative Use Maxwell Ayrton

A superb treasury of decorative wrought iron, this well-illustrated volume presents an informative survey of the ancient craft"s practice throughout England. Its history can be traced simply by admiring the crisp black-and-white illustrations of gates, railings, screens, and other elaborately rendered works. Beginning with a general retrospective, the text cites specific examples throughout the ages, with particular emphasis on the seventeenth-century artistry of Jean Tijou. A regional perspective profiles the works of smiths from Wales, the West of England, and the Midlands, concluding with a discussion of the decay and revival of smithcraft. 241 black-and-white illustrations.