|
"Gothic" art refers to a style of work that dominated
European architecture, (in stone, wood and metal) from 12th
century in France and Italy through to the 15th century in
Germany and Spain. Gothic as a style enjoyed one resurgence
(primarily in England) in the 19th century under the
influence of Welby Pugin.
|
14th century Gothic style rails drawn by Welby
Pugin, c.1836.
|
|
Hinge joint of a music stand,
Samuel Yellin, c. 1920.
|
|
The second resurgence of Gothic design came with the
architecture of the first quarter of the last century in
America. The most profound use of this period vocabulary in
decorative metal was under the influence of Samuel
Yellin.
|
|
Samuel Yellin imported many original works of art
metalwork from Europe as well as old woodwork and books of
patterns, religious imagery and drawings of period
originals. The medium was less important than the visual
images he loved. This library of forms, examples and ideas
was used as a design resource in his shop. Original pieces
of period work were drawn by Yellin's draftsmen in a
standard format for easy reference. Some of the work from
Yellin's shop was carefully executed copies of entire
original period pieces (see the andiron), while some pieces
were translated from various mediums into iron (see St.
Peter, right). However, the bulk of the work produced by
Samuel Yellin Metalworkers was designed in a period spirit,
employing the entire range of period motifs in new
assemblies.
|
St. Peter, Italian c.1500
Wood
|
St. Peter, by Samuel Yellin
c.1920 Iron
|
|
Original light, Samuel Yellin,
c. 1920
|
Reproduction, George Dixon
1990
|
|
One example that spans both history and generations is a
light fixture in sheet metal and mica (left-bottom). The
original light (left-top)was designed about 1920 for a
client of Samuel Yellin. It incorporates fluer de leis of
France, whimsical heart shaped cutouts, twisted rod molding
and a sun-face looking down from the bottom. All of these
period images are assembled in one unified design and, with
process that is over one thousand years old, a light was
created. Almost seventy years later, as Head Blacksmith at
Samuel Yellin, Metalworkers, I was asked to reproduce (among
many other things) a copy of the original.
Like the first smith to make this light, I used chisels
to cut out the pattern. Then, punches, repousse' tools and
lead were used to form and give volume to its fluer de leis,
bugs and beasts.
|
|
The light (shown above) was designed around 1920, with a
period vocabulary older than America, and executed twice, at
opposite ends of the last century. This example hints at
what can be done when the iconography of historical art
forms and processes are re-employed by contemporary
artisans.
|
Original drawing for light
(left-top), c.1920
|
Reworked drawing for light
(left-bottom), c. 1990
|
|
French Gothic andiron, 15th
century
|
Samuel Yellin andiron, c.
1920.
|
|
Art is largely an outgrowth of the art which came before
it. Much of what is "new" today is new to the maker, but old
to history. Those who work in a period vocabulary use
elements & motifs from the pallet of history like a
painter uses colors or a musician uses notes. And like
musical scales, a period vocabulary belongs to everyone.
Want to see how this French
Gothic motif is made?
|
Blacksmithing processes are not unlike the 'rules' of
mixing color (yellow and blue get you green as assuredly as
a punch makes a hole in hot iron). Just as a person who
wants to play improvisational jazz must first learn to
master notes and the instrument in a classical sense, a
blacksmith can innovate best from a classical foundation. To
move toward innovative creativity in metal without the full
range of traditional process skills (draw, fuller, chase,
chisel, etc) is like trying to improvise jazz on a clarinet
without first having learned to find and control the
sounds.
|
|
|
|
|
Terms:
|
|
Period Work: Work done in motifs tied to
a specific time period, done with tools and
processes available in (and restricted by) that
time.
Period Vocabulary: The motifs and
patterns of one, any or all time periods.
These can be applied as described above or they
can be blended in a design. Today, smith's have the
freedom to range through the entire vocabulary of
forms, selecting that which works visually for a
very eclectic market.
Motif: An element or theme that either
repeats in, or dominates, a design.
Process: The procedural task steps and
tools which combine and sequence to produce an
outcome. One can either use process intrinsic to
the period, totally modern or a mix of the two and
still employ a period vocabulary in a design
sense.
|
|
|
Allegorical
"Saint John" - by George Dixon
