Our blacksmith studio first opened in a small stone barn on the wood's edge of upstate New York. Within a few short years Fine Architectural Metalsmiths had commissions in the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City, among others, and our work was winning awards from our peers. In 1993 Fine Architectural Metalsmiths moved into its own space in a turn of the century Borden’s Creamery Icehouse in Florida, NY. The building, which had been buried behind a thicket of sumac and poison ivy, was renovated into fabrication and showroom space.
Today the broad boards that once held blocks of ice are the backdrop for the company's showroom and gallery of gates, fences, furniture, and sculpture. Situated about one hour north of New York City in the heart of the black dirt country, the metal arts showroom and sculpture gallery is open to visitors. You are welcome to bring in projects by appointment.
The Design Process
As custom metal artisans, we specialize in developing the right designs for you, or we will work from your own prints. When you come to us with a project or design idea, we begin by listening carefully to your concepts, desires and style preferences. Any visual information, from photos of the site to quick concept sketches or blueprints that you can supply is useful to the design process. When possible we evaluate the field conditions with a site visit. Working from our conversations with you, our knowledge of the design possibilities, and our own metalwork archives, we develop the project from conceptual sketches to drawings for your approval. Together we choose the finishes and other details that give the piece its unique hand-built character.
We know that there is much to be gained by a close relationship between artisan and client. We know how to resolve design questions, we know how to avoid common mistakes in construction, and we bring years of experience in design and practical fabrication as a resource to your project. As artisan blacksmiths, we enjoy the challenge of finding new ways to express the sculptural architecture of the worked metals. The participation of the artisan metalsmith, from design through installation, is your best guarantee of a satisfying project.
The Artisans
Our talented artisan team brings a complementary range of skills and interests to the design and construction of each project. In the studio we have a strong culture of working together on projects, with the best person for each project taking the lead. We enjoy watching new design ideas emerge during the creative process. We also have exceptional standards for the quality and performance of all work built in our studio.
Contact
Phone: 888.862.9577
Fax: 845.651.7857
Mail: PO Box 30, Chester, NY 10918
Email: info@iceforge.com
Hours: By Appointment
