Smith (metalwork)

Smith (metalwork)

A smith, or metalsmith, is a person involved in the shaping of metal objects.

In pre-industrialized times, smiths held high or special social standing since they supplied the metal tools needed for farming (especially the plough) and warfare. This social standing might be a reasonFact|date=September 2008 for the prevalence of "Smith" as an English family name (and similar names in other languages, such as German "Schmidt").

Etymology of smith

The word "smith" is cognate with the somewhat archaic English word, "smite", meaning "to hit" or "to strike". Originally, "smiths" practiced their crafts by forming metal with hammer blows.

As an English suffix, "-smith" connotes a meaning of specialized craftsmen — for example, "wordsmith" and "tunesmith" are nouns synonymous with writer or songwriter, respectively.

Types of smiths

Types of smiths include:

* a blacksmith works with iron and steel; (this is what is usually meant when referring just to "Smith")

* an arrowsmith forges arrow heads;

* a bladesmith forges knives, swords, and other blades;

* a coppersmith, or brownsmith, works with copper;

* a fendersmith makes and repairs the metal fender before fireplaces, protecting rugs and furniture in mansions and fine estates, and frequently cares for the fires as well;

* a goldsmith works with gold;

* a gunsmith works with guns;

* a locksmith works with locks;

* a pewtersmith works with pewter;

* a silversmith, or brightsmith, works with silver;

* a tinsmith, tinner, or tinker works with light metal (such as tinware) and can refer to someone who deals in tinware;

* a swordsmith is a bladesmith who forges only swords;

* a whitesmith works with white metal (tin) and can refer to someone who polishes or finishes the metal rather than forging it.

Sometimes, terms similar to the above are created metaphorically, for categories of people not working with metal at all - for example, "songsmith".

Artisans and Craftpeople

The ancient traditional tool of the smith is a forge or "smithy", which is a furnace designed to allow compressed air (through a bellows) to superheat the inside, allowing for efficient melting, soldering and annealing of metals. Today, this tool is still widely used by blacksmiths as it was traditionally.

The term, "metalsmith", often refers to artisans and craftpersons who practice their craft in many different metals, including gold, copper and silver. Jewelers often refer to their craft as "metalsmithing", and many universities offer degree programs in metalsmithing, jewelry and blacksmithing under the auspices of their fine arts programs.

Machinists

Machinists are metalsmiths who produce high-precision parts and tools. The most advanced of these tools, CNC machines, are computer controlled and largely automated.

External links

* [http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/Publications/Metalsmith.aspx?sm=d_a Metalsmith magazine]
* [http://www.iforgeiron.com IForgeIron.com Metalworking Blueprints, Forum, Gallery and Reference]
* [http://members.vol.at/schmiede/feuerzange.htm Forging tongs (animation shows some typical smithing techniques)]
* [http://www.thedevilsworkshop.ca/howitsmade Video of a ring being forged by a metalsmith]
* [http://www.swordsquad.vze.com Sword Squad: Blacksmithing and Weapon Forum]
* [http://www.silversmithing.com Society of American Silversmiths]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Smith — may refer to: *Smith (metalwork), a person involved in the shaping of metal objects *Smith (surname), an English name **People with the surname Smith * Smith (TV series) (2006), an American television series *Smith (band), a 1960s American rock… …   Wikipedia

  • Metalwork —     Metalwork in the Service of the Church     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Metalwork in the Service of the Church          From the earliest days the Church has employed utensils and vessels of metal in its liturgical ceremonies …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • metalwork — metalworker, n. /met l werrk /, n. objects made of metal. [1840 50; METAL + WORK] * * * Useful and decorative objects fashioned of various metals. The oldest technique is hammering. After с 2500 BC, casting was also used, molten metal being… …   Universalium

  • Smithy — may refer to:* Forge, also called a smithy, the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith * Smith (metalwork), sometimes referred to as a smithy, a person involved in the shaping of metal objects * Smithy (1924 film), a silent American film starring… …   Wikipedia

  • Smyth — is an early variant of the common surname Smith. [Citation: Bardsley, 1901] Shown below are notable people who share the surname Smyth .Family name |name = Smyth Blacksmith at work pronunciation = |meaning = Smith (metalwork) region = United… …   Wikipedia

  • Fendersmith — A Fendersmith is a person employed to clean and repair the metal fenders before fireplaces in mansions, fine estates, or castles. In this archaic profession, the same person is usually also responsible for lighting and keeping the fire contained… …   Wikipedia

  • Medieval art — Byzantine monumental Church mosaics are one of the great achievements of medieval art. These are from Monreale in Sicily from the late 12th century. The medieval art of the Western world covers a vast scope of time and place, over 1000 years of… …   Wikipedia

  • arts, East Asian — Introduction       music and visual and performing arts of China, Korea, and Japan. The literatures of these countries are covered in the articles Chinese literature, Korean literature, and Japanese literature.       Some studies of East Asia… …   Universalium

  • sculpture — sculptural, adj. sculpturally, adv. /skulp cheuhr/, n., v., sculptured, sculpturing. n. 1. the art of carving, modeling, welding, or otherwise producing figurative or abstract works of art in three dimensions, as in relief, intaglio, or in the… …   Universalium

  • Ireland — Irelander, n. /uyeur leuhnd/, n. 1. John, 1838 1918, U.S. Roman Catholic clergyman and social reformer, born in Ireland: archbishop of St. Paul, Minn., 1888 1918. 2. Also called Emerald Isle. Latin, Hibernia. a large western island of the British …   Universalium

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”