The Golden Age of Ironwork

The "Golden Age of Ironwork" examines ironwork from 1840 to 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This period was a boom time of building construction including mass quantities of ornamental ironwork. Many iron manufacturing companies met the need for castings while gifted blacksmiths hand forged wonderful pieces. The examples of wrought iron and iron castings shown in this book are works of art in the truest sense. Throughout the book are examples of how the ironwork enhances and supports the architecture of this time. The first chapters outline the production processes of wrought and cast iron. Applications are then detailed with fences, railings gates, doors and window grills. One section on street, garden and park ironwork, displays some home items including gazebos, chairs, hardware, and a beautiful deer. The book's research is documented with references, a glossary, a bibliography, and index, and the 173 photographs are catalogued. There is another index of street addresses of the examples, providing a tour guide. The textures of the iron surrounded by stone and wood in the large sharp photos by Robert Golding - leap off the pages. All photos have descriptive captions.