Ornamental Wrought Iron Work 
tented himself with 
claiming as its in¬ 
ventor Tubal-cain, a 
descendant of Adam 
in the sixth genera¬ 
tion, thus, uncon¬ 
sciously perhaps, 
tending to show the 
near relationship 
which must always 
exist between the 
artisan and the agri¬ 
culturist. He also 
proudly associates 
with himself, Vulcan 
and other heroes and 
deities of mythology. 
He contends that the 
glorification of the smith in legend and table 
is proof positive of the antiquity and dignity 
of the craft. 
But he neglects to mention the gradual 
growth of ornamental iron work as an off¬ 
shoot from the still more ancient craft of the 
FRENCH, XII. CENTURY 
armorer, who was 
an indispensable at¬ 
tache of every feudal 
community. 
The high training 
of these armorers in 
manipulating tem¬ 
pered metals into 
delicate forms and 
joinings, and their 
skill in chasing and 
inlaying defensive 
armor, found oppor¬ 
tunity also to dis¬ 
play its talent in 
the grilles, gates, 
locks and hinges 
of the feudal castle 
itself. The Church as well, always in rivalry 
of wealth and pride with kings and barons, 
demanded skilled design and workmanship 
in this direction. As early as the tenth cen¬ 
tury, we have an account of a beautiful 
wrought iron rood-screen constructed for 
FRENCH, XII. CENTURY 
312 
