K. John Mason Ironworks

I am a fourth generation ornamental blacksmith and multi-medium sculptor. I have over 50 years of experience in the artistry of metal crafting.  I started this journey in my grandfather's small forge shop in Chippawa, Ontario at the age of 12. I endured 6 years of  training in the old school of blacksmithing.    In 1967 my grandfather pronounced me a Journeyman. I asked him what that meant and he said 'take a journey!' ​​  Through 19 countries, countless forge shops and work with some great artisans, observation and hands-on experience brought me to find my own style. During this time the strongest influence on me was French Baroque: the reduction of symmetry and the idealisation of nature.   Whenever possible I express my love for the art of nature in my pieces, attempting through realism to provide that kinetic  experience for the observer.   In the winter of 2014 my partner and I purchased a building from the Lunenburg Foundry. With the help of a friend we disassembled the building and over the next year repurposed it on our property in Blandford, on the beautiful Aspotogan Peninsula in Nova Scotia.   I find fulfillment in spending my days at the bench, hammering out wrought iron pieces that are each hand-crafted and unique.

My work and design process has been predominently customer driven. Working on unique projects has encouraged me to broaden my scope, style and finish to include periods from Roccoco to Post Modern. Creating these functional pieces with an artistic eye and seeing the satisfaction in its end use typically forges a life long relationship with the customer.   I specialize in custom wrought iron work that includes but is not limited to furniture, yard art, sculptural pieces, estate work and functional architectural designs. If you can dream it, I can create it

Blacksmithing today is a blend of hammer work and fabrication.   I excercise the time honored tradition of coal-fired forging to heat and manipulate material with hammer and swage.  One of the forgotten aspects of forging is cold forging where you bend and manipulate with levers, hammers and swages to creat embellishments that make the structure beautiful.