Into The New Iron Age

Amena Chatwin. Toured the country with the renowned puppeteer Olive Blackham using hand-crafted wooden marionettes, many of which Amina made herself. Acknowledged expert in British iron working and smithing, well known to many blacksmiths around the world. Awarded the Companionship of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in recognition of her contributions to the craft of blacksmithing. Chairman of the Historical Metallurgy Society President to the Gloucester Society for Industrial Archaeology and author of articles on local history and archaeology Author 'Into the New Iron Age: Modern British Blacksmiths' - It is impossible to overstate the importance of this book in the history of our craft: without it, there would be no comprehensive, accessible public record of the remarkable revival of artistic blacksmithing in the last quarter of the 20th century Author of Cheltenham's Ornamental Ironwork

It is impossible to overstate the importance of this book in the history of our craft: without it, there would be no comprehensive, accessible public record of the remarkable revival of artistic blacksmithing in the last quarter of the 20th century - no record encompassing the background to the founding of ABANA and of BABA in the 1970s, no record of the fine detail of the Crafts Council's hugely significant international conference 'Forging Iron' at Hereford in 1980, and the subsequent international exhibitions at the V&A and the Building Centre; and no comprehensive record of work by Amina's personal selection of rising British smiths, with their overseas influences - the vast majority of these have confirmed her judgement by becoming WCB award-winners in subsequent years. And it's a great and inspiring read. By Dick Quinnell