One of the many wonderful things about living in France is the wealth of stunningly intricate ironwork. Whether it's wrought or cast the possibilities are seemingly endless and although iron is by nature a hard, unforgiving material it can be manipulated by a skilled artisan into a thing of true beauty.
I personally like it when the iron has a patina of age as to me it can lack a certain charm when it's painted up too perfectly. Luckily there are products on the market you can buy to preserve the iron without loosing the authentic rusty aspect (is it just me???).
Anyway, here are just a few examples that have caught my eye over the last few years that I would love to share:-
I personally like it when the iron has a patina of age as to me it can lack a certain charm when it's painted up too perfectly. Luckily there are products on the market you can buy to preserve the iron without loosing the authentic rusty aspect (is it just me???).
Anyway, here are just a few examples that have caught my eye over the last few years that I would love to share:-
An irresistible sneaky peek through some cast iron gates at a courtyard of an elegant Saintes townhouse.
A charming belle époque bench in our garden that we inherited from a previous home. The woodwork needs a bit of restoration (a job for Super-Spike) but the metalwork is still in perfect condition albeit a little grubby (oops!)
I can't tell you how many houses I have rejected over the years because the windows had been replaced unsympathetically. This intricately cast crémone (I suppose the English translation would be handle or lever) still charms me whenever I cast eyes on it (no pun intended!)
Who wouldn't want this lovely plump putto on their front door? It would certainly serve as a constant reminder to go easy on the food!
I just had to take a photo of this wrought iron balcony adorning an elegant townhouse in Angoulême (well a girl can dream can't she?)
This sweet little wrought iron plant stand is another inherited item from our previous house. I love the rusty patina and in spite of this it is still as strong as the day it was struck in the foundry.
This is one of three wrought iron screens we bought a few years back from an architectural salvage yard. For some reason we've always struggled to find a permanent home for them - oh well maybe the next move!
This deliciously sinuous balustrade graces the courtyard of a house in Cognac. I particularly love the finials although I'm not sure if they are pineapples, pine cones or artichokes (answers on a postcard please).
These wonderful architectural works of art are truly to be treasured. It breaks my heart when I see a lovely pair of ironwork gates being replaced by soulless PVC - and no I don't care if iron is higher maintenance... some things in life are worth the trouble.
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