This bracket represents a couple of next steps I have taken in my blacksmithing. I spend a good amount of time designing this bracket. I went through about 20 scetches until I was happy with the flow of the bracket and in particular, the integration of the support and the bracket proper.Secondly, I developed my punching skills. I did a lot of test pieces and ended up punching all 8 holes. I used either round punches or an oval punch. After using the oval punch, I drifted the hole round. I rather much like the bulging effect of the metal that you get when you punch it. I believe that it adds a lot to the organic nature of the piece.
I used thicker stock than necessary so as to have some true forging marks, and not just decorations. The piece looks like it means business. It is also rather heavy.
I learned how to put a rectangular corner in a round piece of steel. I used the double hammer techniques that Francis Whitaker seem to have favored. It is kind of neccesary to use this technique after the end have already been formed.
All in all, I am very happy with the process as well as the end result. I am hoping that this is the beginning of a seried of ever challenging artistic projects.
Well, gotta have two brackets for things to make sense; below is a second bracket I forged soon after the one shown above. It is in the same style, however, the rose is opened up more.
