The Evolution of Iron Work Spanning Old World to Modern Day

When I first began in the iron working business 17 years ago, everything was hammered or had a very traditional Old World feel (heavy, large pieces). From there, iron work moved into styles evoking Tuscany (a lot of scrolls) and then Cape Cod (smooth, uniform designs).

Today, modern design has taken over, which is something I really enjoy because it often means there’s more metal involved and more architectural elements. From total steel staircases to glass shelving systems suspended in metal casing, the demand for handcrafted metal work is at a high point.

This change in trends has pushed my craft into new designs and different methods of doing my work. As we have progressed into the modern look, we’ve had to improve our techniques, as well as develop new ways to hide, or grind, the welds to produce a more polished look. Back when the style was more traditional, an “unfinished” look that may show the welded joints was welcome, if not highlighted.

Along with the shift to more modern designs, there has also been a greater interest in creating metal architectural items for the outside of a home. Metal fans, trellises, chimney caps…this is a completely new area of design, especially over the last four or five years. With these outdoor products, there is new interest in Corten steel, which has a natural rust patina that develops after several years of exposure to weather.

Another trend that more and more people are asking for is to have a patina or blackened steel finish, whereas it used to be more of a powder coat. These newer finishes are done by hand, as opposed to the powder coat that is mechanically applied.

The evolution of iron work has kept the work challenging, interesting and it continues to be my passion. I look forward to what the next iteration of hand crafted iron work will be.

Ed Taylor

The Taylored Iron