Good Reason For Keeping The Home Fires Burning
Nova Scotian metalsmith Scott Hamlin brings sensitivity and a rare talent to his creations made in iron.
Mark Raynes Roberts
As I mentioned in my last Substack, I wanted to do a following up story on the special commission Sarah and I had asked metalsmith Scott Hamlin to create for us.
Scott is quite an extraordinary man.
He runs Scotian Metalworks in the small hamlet of New Ross, Nova Scotia, and having viewed his intricate ironwork at a friend’s home, we decided we would like to do something similar and have him create a custom-made fireguard for our own fireplace. After visiting his forge to better understand his capabilities, we headed home to conjure up some ideas.
Artisan Scott Hamlin at his forge in New Ross, Nova Scotia, where he has been a metalworker for over 25 years at Scotian Metalworks.
We thought about what would be a meaningful addition to our hearth, and I came up with a couple of optional designs, one involving mourning doves and a bird bath; the other an art nouveau inspired design highlighting five hummingbirds caught in flight and feeding on flowers, symbolic of our melded family of five sons. Sarah naturally chose the latter because of the boys and our love for our feathered visitors to Corner House. So we headed back to Scott a week later to discuss the possibilities before production.
My very basic hummingbird doodle for Scott to work from, giving him the freedom to express his own vision through his skill and craftsmanship.
Scott is a quiet and humble craftsman who has been working in metal for over 25 years. Visiting his studio is like stepping back in time. The foundry naturally smells of metal, flux, and burnt Alda wood reminiscent of my ‘Dickensian’ student days at the Birmingham School of Jewelry & Silversmithing in Hockley. It’s funny how some smells can be offensive and a forge isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. But for me it conjured up nostalgic memories: a scent of the ‘black country’ and metal industry. (Birmingham was known as the ‘workshop of the world.’)
Born in Nova Scotia, Scott developed his talent and craftsmanship working with other local blacksmiths in Lunenburg County before eventually setting up his own forge. His swollen mitten-sized hands are a testament to a life hammering metal each day at the anvil. It’s very hard work, and for Scott especially, it’s a surprising tale how he found himself here.
Some images of our fireguard being created by Scott. He began by determining how to make each individual hummingbird before moving onto the flowers which were created from sheet metal. The rich patina is added at the end, leaving hints of blues and browns when viewed from different angles.
Scott describes himself as a ‘fulfilled man,’ and there is good reason for that.
When he was just 17 years old, he was in a serious car accident which could have easily been fatal. As it was, it left him in a coma for 28 days with a fractured skull and a broken neck. It was life-changing moment which also affected his balance. When he was able to return home, his days of playing ice hockey were behind him. For many, such an accident would derail a person’s life, but in Scott’s case, he felt ‘blessed to still be alive’ and found comfort in his faith and a spiritual life with his closeknit family.
We are truly delighted with Scott’s latest masterpiece ‘Flight Of Nectar’ which has enhanced our living room, bringing a lot of joy to our family when they visit this summer and Christmas.
That healthy outlook on life has served him well and is evident in his commitment, craft, and appreciation in doing what he loves most as an artist. He says it’s the special projects such as ours which excite him the most, stimulating his creative skills. He believes that by creating art that is functional for the home, it offers the client an opportunity to live with something beautiful on a daily basis and still use it!
This is a wonderful video about a fulfilled man who truly appreciates the beauty of each day.
Over the years, Scott has also created many ecclesiastical works for local churches, and made some unusual large “fishy” works for keen salmon fisherman to hang on the wall. His most spectacular work of art is displayed in front of his home in New Ross, a magnificent 6ft bald eagle diving to the ground. It has taken him thirteen years to complete, a true labour of love which he hopes a corporate institution might acquire or an individual wanting to make a statement. I suggested the perfect locale might be Mar-a-lago, a metaphor for Mr Rump’s self-induced downward U.S. economy!
I do hope Scott’s work will interest you enough to commission him for a family heirloom for your own home. There is something quite magical in working closely with an artist, and our genuine affirmation of his talent made him happy. He’s a wonderful character. I know it would make his day to create another beautiful work of art for you.
Our metal hummingbirds have arrived. Now we await the feathered variety very soon!
Mark
Scott Hamlin Metalsmith, Scotian Ironworks, 4843 Hwy 12, New Ross, Nova Scotia, B0J 2M0, Canada Tel: 902 689 2470 Cell: 902 279 1446 www.scotianironworks.com