Latest news with #blacksmith
Fox News
07-08-2025
- General
- Fox News
Angler expecting a fish pulls up rare 700-year-old sword: ‘Real treasures'
A 700-year-old sword was recently reeled in by a fisherman in Poland — offering a rare glimpse into warfare in the Middle Ages. The discovery was announced by the Capital Conservator of Monuments in Warsaw last month. In a Facebook post, the department said the lucky angler found the sword in the Vistula River. "It was supposed to be this big a fish – but it turned out to be this big a sword!" the post read. "As you can see, the Vistula hides some real treasures." The fisherman surrendered the sword to local authorities, who transferred it to local experts. A team is now working to preserve the artifact for future study. "A sword this old, found in what is now Warsaw, is unique." The Facebook page's post noted that the sword is preserved "almost in its full length" and features both a spherical pommel and a cross mark on its grip. Anna Magdalena Łań, a chief specialist with the city of Warsaw, told Fox News Digital that experts are still studying the sword. "The sword is dated to the 13th or 14th century, which is the time when Warsaw was founded," Łań noted in an email translated from Polish to English. "A more precise date may be determined thanks to the cross mark, which is the 'signature' of the blacksmith who made it," she added. "Research is ongoing." She said the length of the sword, including the hilt, is over 31 inches. "I don't know the weight, but the sword is quite light because [of a] very large extent of corrosion," Łań said. "A sword this old, found in what is now Warsaw, is unique." "The sword was found in a river, meaning it was discovered without context – that is, without other artifacts that could tell us more about it." The circumstances of why the sword was dropped in the river are now lost to time. Łań noted that swords were not deposited ritually in 13th-century Poland; they were more of a pagan tradition than a Christian one. She concluded, "The sword was found in a river, meaning it was discovered without context – that is, without other artifacts that could tell us more about it." The weapon is one of many fascinating archaeological discoveries made in Poland this year. In Gdańsk, Poland, archaeologists recently found a medieval knight's tomb beneath a former ice cream parlor. Months earlier, a pair of pedestrians found a 2,500-year-old dagger on a Polish beach, on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
Malay Mail
02-08-2025
- General
- Malay Mail
Metal, memory and a master's hands: Meet the man keeping Kelantan's ‘pisau jam' tradition burning
KOTA BHARU, Aug 3 — Thin smoke curls from glowing embers as Fauzi Yusoff, 69, firmly grasps his hammer. His movements are slow, deliberate, as if syncing with the heartbeat of a craft that breathes through fire and steel. This is the daily ritual of a former headmaster who has never stopped breathing life into the 'pisau jam', a traditional Kelantan Malay knife now known mostly by name to the young generation. 'The shape of this 'pisau jam' is unique, like the hands of a wall clock. I use iron for the blade's core, but the rest is made from a mix of five types of old 'pamo' iron... if you look closely, you'll see fine borders along the blade, that's its signature,' said Fauzi, affectionately called Cikgu Fauzi, in an interview with Bernama. Hammering metal was merely an after-school hobby for Fauzi more than three decades ago. Today, each strike of the hammer is a memory, a tribute to his late father, Yusoff Kasim, a renowned blacksmith in Kampung Padang Embun, in Pasir Mas. A knife crafted by Fauzi Yusoff undergoes the burning process before being forged at his workshop in Kampung Hutan Pasir, Ketereh. — Bernama pic Though only six inches long, each 'pisau jam' forged by Cikgu Fauzi tells a deep and personal story. Its sheath is carved from tiger-striped Acacia wood, the bolster (aring) crafted from hammered molten copper, and the hilt, or handle, made from strong, long-lasting merbau wood. 'Many have offered to buy it, but I can't let it go. This isn't just a weapon, it's my family's history, my father's,' he said. At home, his wife, Che Azizah Mat Ali, 67, also a retired teacher, quietly stands by, a witness to her husband's weathered hands and enduring devotion. Their four children and 11 grandchildren grew up to the rhythm of metal on iron. They know that for Fauzi, this isn't just work, it's blood, memory, and soul. Apart from 'pisau jam', Fauzi also still produces machetes, keris, swords and sickles. Each one is forged with patience because for him, the art of ironwork is not just about form but also taste. Knife maker Fauzi Yusoff works on refining a forged blade at his workshop in Kampung Hutan Pasir, Ketereh. — Bernama pic Among his most treasured creations is a knife blade with a wooden sheath in the shape of an arowana fish. 'It takes months to finish one. Each fin must be carved by hand. I used to sell it for RM550, but now it's worth thousands of ringgit, but I don't make it anymore because the sheath maker has passed away,' he said. His humble workshop behind the house, built at a cost of nearly RM100,000, is more than a place to work. It's a sacred space, where every spark and ember rekindles memories of his father. 'When I hear the sound of the hammer, I feel like my father is beside me again. I remember how he taught me to hold the hammer, how to be patient when the iron glows red,' he said. Fauzi Yusoff shows some of the machetes, sickles, knives and keris he has made at his workshop in Kampung Hutan Pasir, Ketereh. — Bernama pic Most orders today come for machetes and sickles, which are ready in a week. But making swords and keris takes time, precision, and patience — skills that not every hand can master. A single handcrafted keris can fetch up to RM3,000. 'The process begins by heating the iron over charcoal, then hammering it with an 'Air Hammer' machine. After that comes the 'sepoh', quenching it in water or oil to harden the blade,' he explained. But the final stage — the rolling and finishing — is the most delicate. 'If you're not at peace, the blade won't turn out right. This is my father's trust. It's also my love for the craft,' he said. For Cikgu Fauzi, as long as there is fire, as long as hands are willing to strike iron, this heritage will never die. — Bernama
Daily Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Daily Telegraph
Aussie's unusual mannequin styling exposed after home listed
A mysterious, 135-year-old blacksmith shop decorated with mannequins, dolls and chains has come up for sale between Sydney and Newcastle in one of the year's most intriguing listings. Situated in the Wollombi Valley area, the home abounds with eerie artefacts and has a storied history. The 2,000 sqm block on Wollombi Rd includes a cottage, an old barn, a carport and an intriguing old blacksmith's workshop, now known as the 'Forge Gallery'. Listing agent Stephen Annis-Brown of Wollombi Real Estate said the gallery offered 'a bewildering array of old wares, second hand and recycled merchandise, clothing, artifacts, artworks and rarities beyond.' It is littered with bits and bobs from a bygone era, including mannequins and dolls. The gallery's taste for dummies and dolls carries through the whole property — there are statues and mannequins in the living room, the carport and on the verandah. The cottage appears to have kept many of its original features, maintaining its brick fireplace and the traditional stove in the kitchen. There is also an outdoor bath on the premises. MORE: Grim detail in rental listing horrifies tenants According to Mr Annis-Brown, the property was originally purchased in April 1840 by a Scottish ex-convict named John McDougall for nine pounds, six shillings and eight pence. Nowadays, the property is priced at a guide of $1.38m. According to Free Settler or Felon — a historical research website offering records of convicts and settlers in the Newcastle area — John McDougall became a constable in Wollombi during his life. He was responsible for the capture of a bushranger on Wollombi Rd — the site of this property — in April 1839. MORE: Popular Aussie suburbs at serious risk 'The existing timber slab blacksmiths barn, now referred to as the Forge Gallery was then constructed in the mid 1890s,' Mr Annis-Brown said. 'It provided blacksmithing and farriery services to the expanding Wollombi Village.' Mr Annis-Brown said the property has since had multiple uses including as a residence, workshop, gallery and retail outlet. Moving forward, he said the block's RU5 village zone permits would allow for both residential and commercial development. MORE: 'Secret' inner suburb where buyers get better value
News.com.au
23-07-2025
- News.com.au
Aussie's unusual mannequin styling exposed after home listed
A mysterious, 135-year-old blacksmith shop decorated with mannequins, dolls and chains has come up for sale between Sydney and Newcastle in one of the year's most intriguing listings. Situated in the Wollombi Valley area, the home abounds with eerie artefacts and has a storied history. The 2,000 sqm block on Wollombi Rd includes a cottage, an old barn, a carport and an intriguing old blacksmith's workshop, now known as the 'Forge Gallery'. Listing agent Stephen Annis-Brown of Wollombi Real Estate said the gallery offered 'a bewildering array of old wares, second hand and recycled merchandise, clothing, artifacts, artworks and rarities beyond.' It is littered with bits and bobs from a bygone era, including mannequins and dolls. The gallery's taste for dummies and dolls carries through the whole property — there are statues and mannequins in the living room, the carport and on the verandah. The cottage appears to have kept many of its original features, maintaining its brick fireplace and the traditional stove in the kitchen. There is also an outdoor bath on the premises. According to Mr Annis-Brown, the property was originally purchased in April 1840 by a Scottish ex-convict named John McDougall for nine pounds, six shillings and eight pence. Nowadays, the property is priced at a guide of $1.38m. According to Free Settler or Felon — a historical research website offering records of convicts and settlers in the Newcastle area — John McDougall became a constable in Wollombi during his life. He was responsible for the capture of a bushranger on Wollombi Rd — the site of this property — in April 1839. 'The existing timber slab blacksmiths barn, now referred to as the Forge Gallery was then constructed in the mid 1890s,' Mr Annis-Brown said. 'It provided blacksmithing and farriery services to the expanding Wollombi Village.' Mr Annis-Brown said the property has since had multiple uses including as a residence, workshop, gallery and retail outlet.
National Post
29-06-2025
- General
- National Post
Christopher Dummitt: Canada's long-standing tradition of sweeping its British roots under the rug
Article content As we toured through buildings from this historic village, each devoted to a different artisanal skill or aspect of life, the kids seemed perplexed. There was a blacksmith, a tinsmith, a print shop, a general store, and a schoolhouse. Each interpreter walked the kids through the seemingly primitive, yet amazingly complex, sets of skills and networks of knowledge that were represented at each station. Article content The tinsmith used eleven different specific tools as he made a star-shaped Christmas decoration. He pointed out that the tin he used would have had to be imported from Britain. The printing press was an amazing invention that transformed 16th century Europe and the societies that emerged out of it. It needed expensive skilled labour and was constantly being updated and modified to be more efficient. Tied to the market and democracy, the printing press was part of what made this rustic little village (and the real ones it is meant to represent) part of a wider network of ideas and things. There were also weavers using complex machines that were, in some ways, the first computers. Article content Article content And yet, at several points, as the interpreters turned to the kids for questions, one kept surfacing: 'Did the Indigenous make this?' Because they must have, right? Article content To which the interpreters replied, 'No,' and moved on. Article content So much of the social studies curriculum in Ontario tells kids to center Indigenous peoples and knowledge. How could these amazing things not come from Indigenous cultures? Article content It was at the replica church that things really got weird, though. There was no interpreter in this building, and so the kids were happy to run amok. One child walked up to the front and — reaching for the closest thing in his mind he could think of that might be a prayer — in mock, sonorous tones, he recited a land acknowledgment, which he knew by heart. Of course, he did. Article content Canadian schools got rid of the Lord's prayer a generation ago. It didn't fit with a modern diverse Canada. It has been replaced by land acknowledgments. Article content There was a time, not too long ago, when the school system didn't operate this way — when Indigenous history and contemporary concerns were not a major focus. There has been a lot of progress to rethink how we approach the Canadian past. Article content But there's also the Canadian tradition of turning a good thing into a stupid mess. Article content These young children know that they need to respect Indigenous cultures — and know that these cultures were sophisticated and fascinating. That's what they've learned. Article content But what they don't have are the lessons from an earlier time that would balance out this new appreciation. Instead, their lessons speak against an earlier way of thinking about the country. Without that earlier knowledge, what these kids are getting is the now off-balanced focus on reconciliation, relationships to the land, and inclusivity. Article content What they lack is the broader story of the settler societies that created Canada — about the dynamism of centuries of progress from the Scientific Revolution to the Enlightenment to the creation of modern forms of democracy, liberalism, and parliamentary institutions. Yet, this isn't part of the elementary curriculum. Article content This isn't the fault of any individual teacher (many of whom are wonderful). Article content
