Alan Rogers

I am a blacksmith and historian (BA, Clemson University, 1976; MA, Clemson University, 1985; PhD, Emory University, 1992) with 28 years experience forging iron. I began my iron working career in 1979 as a farrier, studying under Danny Ward at the Eastern School of Farriery.   My favorite jigsaw puzzle as a child seemed to seal my fate.

Shoeing horses helped me pay for my Master's degree in history at Clemson and when I finished that, I was offered the chance to do my PhD work at Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia.  While at Emory I had the opportunity to teach five years worth of Western Civ while researching and writing my dissertation on Renaissance horsemanship in England.  Since 1992 I have specialized in fine forged iron railings, gates, and furniture.  I also do quite a bit of restoration work and create hand-forged tomahawks based on 18th century designs.  A couple of years ago, I began to make jewelry, using lots of color, silver, and big chunks of torquoise and coral. While a great deal of my work has been classical scrollwork and historical preservation, I have created many free form designs, drawing special inspiration from natural shapes and forms. 

In 1993 I went to Georgia Public TV with an idea for a how-to show about blacksmithing and they agreed to help me put it together and to produce it.  Forge and Anvil turned into an 11 part series that has been shown all over the US and my book and tapes have sold all over the world.  Many schools including some in Australia have it in their libraries and use it in their shop and art classes. We went on the air in 1995 and won a Telly award that year and 12 years later I still get email from all over the world from people wanting to get started in blacksmithing. 

Between 1997 and 2002 I created, designed, and/or engineered over 400 designs for one Atlanta home furnishings company.  Taking these designs and prototypes to Haiti, I spent 2 weeks each month working with 300 to 500 craftspeople to fill a forty foot container with handmade goods every two weeks.  I build prototypes and can take a product from the dream to the production line.  My work has sold in Neiman Marcus, Sundance, J. Jill, Dean and Delucca, and many other fine catalogs and shops. 

In January 2004 I began teaching blacksmithing classes at the School of Building Arts in Charleston, SC, working with Clemson Architecture students and students in the Historic Preservation and Art programs at the College of Charleston.  Together we restored the forged and cast ironwork on a 42 pounder cannon at Fort Sumter, Charleston, SC, and recreated a portion of the front step railing at Drayton Hall, on the Ashley River in South Carolina.  I also demonstrated blacksmithing at the Masters of the Building Arts conference in February 2004.  This event was cosponsored by the Smithsonian, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the School of the Building Arts. 

I have demonstrated at Drayton Hall, in Charleston, SC, and worked with Phillip Simmons on a project with Memminger Elementary School, an inner city school in Charleston, SC.  Using designs from 5th graders there, we created a hanging wrought iron sign for the school. 

In late 2003 I began restoring the ironwork on Washington Park in Charleston, SC.  Washington Park was built to honor George Washington's visit to Charleston and this is the first serious renovation of the 200 year old wrought iron set in marble around the perimeter of the park. 

I am currently renovating portions of a cemetery fence at the Pon Pon Chapel of Ease, Burnt Chapel, SC, (ca. 1706) and the Beedon-Lucas House (ca. 1820) in Walterboro, SC.  Future projects include the ironwork on the Pinckney plot at the Edmundsbury Chapel of Ease on the Ashepoo River south of Charleston, SC and various new railings and gates for private individuals. I also continue to make custom tomahawks and forged pieces for re-enactors who want authentic accoutrements.  My nieces are festooned with jewelry.

When I can break away from the forge, I garden, hike, read voraciously, play guitar, and get on a dirt bike every chance I get.  I also love travel and researching the rich history of both sides of my family.  My wife Ellie and I live on a small farm in Walnut Grove, Georgia with our dog, Honeybee, and Tanner the Tailless Wondercat.

Tanner

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All content,  unless otherwise noted,  Copyright Alan Rogers 2007.

Last updated 12/1/2007.