Badger Village Custom Gallery

Custom Gallery

The Custom Gallery presents a number of commissions by Badger Village Blacksmithing, Inc. These works are not for sale, but are displayed for your pleasure. If you have a desire for custom work, please request more information in our interactive Speak Up! area.

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Celtic Table Base
Commissioned for a private residence in Wisconsin, this Celtic-styled table base was created specifically to support a concrete slab which serves as a desktop.

Measurements: Height- 30", Width- 31 1/2", Desktop- 34"x68"

Menorah
Forged for a customer in time for the recognition of Hanukkah

Measurements: Height- 12", Width- 15", Depth- 2"

Wine Cellar Door
The evolution process behind this custom piece was fascinating as Steve worked with Dutch Made Custom Cabinetry who commissioned this piece for a private residence in Indiana.

Measurements: Height- 85", Width- 23", Depth- 3/4"

Mantle Brackets
The design for these mantles brackets was adapted from an early American balcony support found in Charleston, South Carolina.

Measurements: Height -15", Depth -10", Width -1 ½"

Cross Sculpture
This cross was forged from a single piece of 1" square mild steel. This is a good example of what a blacksmith might call "smoke and mirrors".

Measurements: Height- 18", Width- 12", Depth- ½

Sea Bell
The Sea Bell was a custom piece designed and crafted by Steve as an example of art and uniqueness. The bell has a clear tone when struck by the hammer and the detail of the sea bell was carefully forged to make it a creative work of art. It was completed with a silver finish.

Measurements: 12 綌 W x 10 綌 H

Towel Tree stands approximately 4' 6" tall. Made to hold three hand towels, the Towel Tree creates an artistic and rustic flair intended to compliment the customer's bathroom.

Steve designed this piece for a Montana client.

The "Sconce" designed by John Wright to hold a candle and be mounted on the wall was donated to UMBA, the Upper Midwest Blacksmithing Association, as a piece for auction. It was well received and its sleek design of forged metalwork was well appreciated by fellow blacksmiths!

The "Acorn Curtain Crane" was designed as a custom piece for a customer who was looking to hang curtains from her arched window. The customer, appreciative of maple tree acorns, wanted that piece of personality as a part of her custom curtain cranes. The swivel design of the cranes makes for simple ease of swinging the curtains away from the window. The Acorn tiebacks also swivel so the customer can gently loop the curtains back to create a beautiful frame of material around her arched windows.

The "Corkscrew Medallion" joins our portfolio and examples the fine points of tapering and detailing involved in the hand forging process.This medallion was an artistic piece that Steve Hackbarth forged that recently surfaced in our collection and we thought we would share it with you.

Sunset Run was hosted by a community church in Baraboo, WI.. Badger Village Blacksmithing was privileged to provide the medals for all the runners in the 5K race. The medal joins our Portfolio and the collections of several talented and successful runners!

Carefully tapered, the "Icthus" candleholder holds a single candlestick with a bobeshea for wax overflow. Designed by Badger Village Blacksmithing's Administrative Assistant, Jaime Sundsmo, the "Icthus" candleholder symbolizes the meaningful mark of the early Christian A.D. to current times. Part of our portfolio, the candleholder was gifted to Jaime from Badger Village Blacksmithing and has a special place in her home.

	"Blossom" This special piece has joined our Portfolio collection at Badger Village Blacksmithing. Created by John Wright, the curves and scrolling on this piece example the fine texture and detailing involved in the handforging process. Its artistic depth and meaning are encompassed in its title.

	Crafted by Steve Hackbarth. "Joy" joined the Badger Village Collection in June of 2000 and was then passed on to UMBA, the Upper Midwest Blacksmithing Association in August of 2000.

	This custom fireplace toolset was created in July of 2000 for a customer who wanted a large, rustic style toolset with a distinct rust finish. The toolset features a shovel, tongs, brush, and poker. Measurements: 33 1/2" H with an 8 1/2" footprint

	The Antique Door Knocker was created as a custom piece for a customer that wanted a reproduction of a doorknocker they had discovered buried on their property. This is John Wright's first custom piece since beginning with Badger Village Blacksmithing and shows skill and potential.

	Permanent Bonsai The Permanent Bonsai was made as a sample for the Bonsai basin stand seen below. The general concept was inspired by the abundant driftwood that washes up on the beaches of the Lake Michigan shoreline near the clients home. Dimensions: Height 26" Width 21" Depth 16" Finish: Silver Highlighted

	Bonsai Basin Stand This piece was designed for a residence that is located within one hundred yards of the Lake Michigan shoreline in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The owner of the home wanted something that reflected the feel of this sandy coastal area. The infinitely varied driftwood that washes up along the shoreline near the home inspired the piece. It is designed to allow the hanging of two hand towels beneath the sink

	Wave Cabinet Pulls These freeform cabinet pulls reflect the constant motion of the lakeshore near the owners’ home. Other items made for this residence include BONSAI BASIN STAND, SINK CONE and FIREPLACE

	Sink Cone This piece was designed to cover the plumbing under an island-mounted prep-sink. The interior of the cone is lined with rice paper and may be backlit with a small, low voltage accent light. Other items made for this residence include BONSAI BASIN STAND, WAVE PULLS and, FIREPLACE FRONT.

	Fireplace Front The owner of the lakeside home where this piece is installed is a design executive and presented Badger Village with a conceptual design focusing on the free movement of the lake near her home. The forming of the latticework provided an opportunity to allow the work to develop naturally as it progressed. The doors open on the curving line in the center. Other items made for this residence include BONSAI BASIN STAND, WAVE PULLS and, SINK CONE.

	Windsong Sculpture Approximately 6" x 10" This balancing sculpture was forged out of stainless steel. The basic inspiration for this piece was the many weather vanes that grace the tops of barns and homes in the central Wisconsin countryside.

	Rose Vase Another example of the artistic detail possible in decorative ironwork

	Frank Lloyd Wright Fire Tool Set This set of fireplace tools was donated to the Seth Petersen Cottage on Mirror Lake in central Wisconsin. A Chicago area architectural firm provided the conceptual design for the tools.

	Claw & Ball Study This piece was forged as a study piece in order to develop the process of forming a three dimensional claw that could grasp a ball. The process of the claw formation was used in the production of the DRAGON TOOL SET so that the Dragon could hold a container for matches and a ball that is used as a striking plate for the matches

	Dragon Fire Tools This whimsical dragon was designed to hold a four piece set of fire tools. In one hand he holds a container for kitchen matches and in the other he holds a serrated ball for lighting the matches. Overall height of this piece is approximately 42". The dragon is carved out of 1-1/4" square bar using a variety of chisels, cuts and punches.

	Fireplace Mantle Supports The design for these brackets was inspired by a set of hinges that were seen in a book featuring European iron work of the early seventeenth century. The customer wanted to add the rose in the center to echo a well tended exterior rose garden.

	Lion of Scots The design for this 30" diameter wall hanging was presented to us by a customer in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area and was taken from a set of antique stained glass windows. The lion was formed from 16ga sheet steel using chasing, repousse’ (to push from the back) and forging techniques. The repousse’ work was done using a lead block for backing up.

	Wall Sconce A pair of these wall sconces was made to accessorize the large CHANDELIER that was made for a private residence near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They measure approximately 14" by 5"

	Large Chandelier The owners of this new post and beam home wanted to have a fixture in the central hall that looked like something from a mediaeval castle. This large chandelier weighs approximately 400lbs and measures 6 feet in diameter. It features 10 lights on the upper ring and 5 lights on the lower ring. The chandelier consists of over 400 individual hand forged parts and over 50 component parts such as wiring, light fixtures, and chain. Job time totaled approximately 160 hours. The SCONCES that were produced for this residence followed the same design as the chandelier.

	World Cross The design for this 4-1/2’ x 3’ cross is based on a number of key passages from the Bible. The central elements are forged from stainless steel and the outer elements from mild steel. This represents the eternal within the temporary from Philippians 2:5-11. The bottom of the cross forms a radius to represent the world in relation to Christ as suggested by Colossians 1:15-17. The over all design is accomplished by three upright bars piercing three horizontal bars representing the work of Christ from John 19:30-37 and Isaiah 53:5. The ends of the crossbars open outward in all directions symbolizing the extent of the work that was done and its universal meaning as found in John 1:12 and Romans 3:21-24. And the four squares created in the center represent Acts 2:42 which mentions teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.

	Grille Study In 1990 Steve Hackbarth was accepted as an advanced student by internationally recognized blacksmith Francis Whitaker. This grille is the study piece that he designed for that advanced training. The inspiration for the design came from various books on antique and recent ironwork in Europe and is also the basis for the Badger Village Blacksmithing logo. The grille measures 30" x 30". Only traditional joinery techniques such as forge welding, collaring, riveting, and mortise and tenon, were used for the fabrication and construction. The bird in the center is forged in two pieces and riveted together at the wing.

	Rose Garden Grille This piece was design to be part of a promotional event for a rose festival in a local Wisconsin community. It shows another variation on the formation of the Badger Village Blacksmithing logo bird. Each rose is formed from 4 to 6 layers of forged sheet steel. The latticework connects to the central ring via mortise and tenon joints.

	Accent Table The inspiration for this piece came from the fascinating architecture found in the Al Ringling Theatre in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Massive Corinthian columns flank the stage area on each side and lead your eyes up to a large chandelier that hangs below a fresco painted on the ceiling above. This table features a marble top and a bronze highlighted finish.

	Unity Cake Top The motif of the doves and the ring was incorporated into this design for a wedding cross. The design was used on all of the stationary for the wedding as well as this top for the wedding cake. Materials used are steel and brass sheet.

	Equus This piece was designed to study the possibilities in mixed media. Materials used are steel, brass sheet, and naval bronze. The horse has long been a symbol of strength and dignity, of nobility and majesty. This design was developed to draw the viewers eye consistently toward the hand carved and forged horse head at the cente

	Candle Tree This piece was made after a customer saw the FOREST TABLE. This is a good example of the relatively limitless possibilities for design and application of forged work. The piece holds five taper candles at varying heights

Scripture Links for World Cross

Acts 2:42 And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.    (Return to World Cross)
And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.    (Return to World Cross)

Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.      (Return to World Cross)

Colossians 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist (Return to World Cross)

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit 31 � The Jews therefore, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.32 The soldiers therefore came, and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man who was crucified with Him; 33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs; 34 but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water. 35 And he who has seen has borne witness, and his witness is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. 36 For these things came to pass, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN." 37 And again another Scripture says, "THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED." (Return to World Cross)

Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Return to World Cross)

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (Return to World Cross)

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Return to World Cross)