Smeedwerk

Smeedwerk is the Dutch term for the craft and industry of shaping metal, especially iron and steel, through heating and hammering. The practice involves heating metal in a forge and forming it on an anvil by hammer blows, bending, and cutting as needed. It covers both functional hardware and decorative work, including tools, hinges, nails, gates, railings, and ornamental pieces. The field is closely associated with blacksmithing, but can also include artistic and restorative metalwork.

Techniques and tools commonly used in smeedwerk include hot forging, cold working, and finishing processes. Core tools are the forge, anvil, hammer, and tongs. Techniques range from shaping and bending to punching, Riveting and welding may be used for assembly. Finishing steps such as tempering, quenching, filing, polishing, and patination help determine the metal’s strength and appearance. In addition to production tasks, smeedwerk encompasses artistic metalwork and restoration, where historical accuracy and craftsmanship are valued.

Historically, smeedwerk has played a central role across many cultures, providing tools, weapons, and architectural hardware. In Europe, blacksmiths contributed to buildings, infrastructure, and decorative ironwork; in other regions, smithing traditions enriched everyday items as well as ceremonial pieces. Industrialization expanded mass production, but artisanal smithing and ornamental ironwork have persisted in studios and workshops, as well as in restoration and contemporary sculpture.

Today, practitioners may work in small studios or workshops, often following formal training or apprenticeships. The field intersects with metalworking, sculpture, and architectural restoration, and it incorporates modern equipment such as power hammers while retaining traditional techniques. Safety, material properties, and standards shape contemporary smeedwerk practice.