The Art of Iron ― Objects from the Mus嶪 Le Secq Des Tournelles, Rouen, Normandy

For centuries, wrought iron was worked with care and craft into objects as diverse as shop signs, balcony railings, and dog collars. This handsome volume brings together thirty-six unique pieces of wrought iron from the celebrated collection of the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles in Rouen, France, and combines stunning photography with fresh and engaging scholarship. Salvaged by the founders of the Musée Le Secq during a period when wrought iron was being rapidly discarded and replaced with modern materials, these objects tell stories of preindustrial times and highlight the importance of iron in our shared past. An essay by Kathleen M. Morris offers a contemporary perspective on these extraordinary works of art, while current and former curators of the Musée Le Secq provide fascinating insights into the magnificent holdings of the museum’s renowned collection.

Kathleen M. Morris is the Sylvia and Leonard Marx Director of Collections and Exhibitions and curator of decorative arts at the Clark Art Institute.