Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil, or architectural feature made of iron, especially one used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork: wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000 BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons. Use of iron was mainly utilitarian until the Middle Ages; it became widely used for decoration in the period between the 16th and 19th century.
Gate of the Winter Palace in St Petersburg.
Details of ironwork on the central portal of the west facade of Notre Dame de Paris (France)
Cast iron fence
Iron bell cooling after iron pour
Wrought iron is an iron alloy with a very low carbon content in contrast to that of cast iron. It is a semi-fused mass of iron with fibrous slag inclusions, which give it a wood-like "grain" that is visible when it is etched, rusted, or bent to failure. Wrought iron is tough, malleable, ductile, corrosion resistant, and easily forge welded, but is more difficult to weld electrically.
Schematic drawing of a puddling furnace
The microstructure of wrought iron, showing dark slag inclusions in ferrite
Image: Eiffel tower from below
Image: Balcon d'un immeuble parisien
