Hand Forging and Wrought-Iron Ornamental Work

Back in 1911 mission style furniture and decoration was in vogue. And it's back. The yuppies love it. This might be your chance to turn your blacksmithing hobby into a part time paying business creating metal reproductions. With as crazy as the housing market is, there is big money to be made.

From 1911 comes this rather good book on ornamental blacksmithing. Just under half is a clear description of the tools and techniques used, and then you have instructions on making Twists, Scrollwork, Box forging, Embossing, Drawer-Pulls and Hinges, Doorplates, Lamps and a whole load more designs which were current 95 years ago, and might just be coming back into fashion! 197 heavily illustrated pages. Paperback. Lindsay Publications

The text gives plenty of how-to, but I've seen more detailed texts. Googerty will show what is possible, and that's the strength of this book: ideas. Some of the constructions are very simple that any beginner should be able to do. Others look like Sam Yellin himself fabricated them. Any one idea can start you off in a new direction.