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PICTORIAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DECORATIVE IRONWORK
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Ornamental work in wrought iron reached its zenith in the 12th through the 18th centuries-a time of great creative fervor that came to an end when the craft was essentially made obsolete by the advent of cast iron. This superb, profusely illustrated treasury helps preserve the rich legacy of those seven centuries. In his thoughtful introduction, the author observes that the smith's craft has always evolved in two different phases: the architectural and the decorative. Focusing mostly on fine examples from France, Germany, Italy and Spain, he goes on to show how these stages have shifted over time and from one country to another.
The heart of the book is magnificent collection of over 450 black-and-white photographs depicting ironwork from all over Europe-doors, screens, gates, gratings, railings, grilles, brackets, door knockers, locks, keys, torch holders, lanterns, candelabra, sconces, firedogs, chandeliers, and much more. Included are beautiful examples from Ourscamp Abbey, France; Notre Dame, Paris; Chichester Cathedral, England; the tombs of the Scaligeri, Italy; Barcelona Cathedral, Spain; Fredericksborg Castle, Denmark; the Collegium Clementinum, Prague; the Lyons Cathedral; Versailles; and scores of other sites. Other photos depict ironwork preserved in the Louvre, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Schloss-Museum in Berlin.
The illustrations are copyright-free, making the book and ideal source of ready-to-use decorative art. It will also serve as an unending fount of creative inspiration, and will be a special delight to aficionados of antique ironwork or the decorative arts.
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