Fine iron
Wirework is a unique part of Slovak folk culture dating back to the late 17th century. The craft, known as tinkery, originated among peoples living in the infertile mountainous regions of northwest Slovakia.
As with any folk art, tinkery was at first a wholly utilitarian enterprise, practiced purely as a means of subsistence.
Itinerant tinkers travelled the countryside repairing earthenware by embedding it with handcrafted wire nets. They began producing household utensils and rudimentary farm tools. Hammered, drawn, coiled, pulled and cut, these unique handcrafted wirework objects were not only functional, but aesthetically beautiful.
What began as a local phenomenon, born of economic necessity, soon spread through- out Western Europe to Northern Africa, Asia, and the Americas. By the mid to late -19th century, tinkery loomed large as a popular art.
Craftsmen were quick to exploit the qualities inherent in fine iron wire: Malleable, strong, durable, ornamental, expressive, economical. These early tinkers developed simple and efficient procedures for forming and binding iron wire. The resulting early objects were admired for their light, airy shapes, clean lines and relative austerity. The forms bordered on whimsy. To this day artists and artisans alike look to traditional tinkery as historical reference and, perhaps more importantly, as inspiration.
Iron wire is fibrous in structure and light gray in colour. It can be hammered, stretched or twisted when it is hot or cold. To prevent rust and corrosion, and to further enhance its inherent strength, the surface is galvanized and coated with nickel or chrome. Nickel, which is silvery white, is decorative in its own right and has a soft sheen. Chrome is not naturally shiny. It gets its shine from the underlying layer of nickel, which is used as a base. Chrome can be polished, nickel cannot.
Industrialization temporarily overshadowed interest in the handmade object. By the mid-20th century wirework was thought to be a thing of the past. Fortunately this is no longer the case. There is a strong market for fine iron wirework today. While the wire is no longer hand drawn, the work itself is carried out entirely by hand. Each piece bears the signature of the steady hand and eye that formed it.
The creative and expressive potential inherent in traditional wire and tinkering techniques is incalculable. What can be imagined can, in the hands of a skilled and seasoned tinker, be crafted. Baskets, bottle racks, serving dishes, plant stands, trivets, tables, fixtures, lamps, large, small, ornate, austere. The tinker manipulates the pliant material, turning, twisting, weaving the flexible strands into a firmly fixed form. The process is slow and exacting. The result: material form unlike any other.
Care suggestions
General care
If you want to remove dust from this product, please use a clean, dry brush.
Anthracite finish
Should a stubborn stain occur, remove it by rubbing gently with a soft, clean, and only very slight damp cloth.
Chrome finish
Should a stubborn stain occur, remove it with a small amount of chrome polish, rubbing gently with a soft clean cloth.
