Decorative wrought iron column on a fire escape.
Many different styles of columns are used in homes throughout the United States. It is not uncommon to see large Greek and Roman influenced columns on modern colonial styled homes, just as it is not uncommon to see wrought iron flat columns on the porches of homes built in the 1950s. Wrought iron was used in the United States for decorative purposes in the late 1800s and is still used today in some areas. Does this Spark an idea?
About Wrought Iron
Iron is one of the most abundant elements on the planet. In its natural form, it may come with various other elements mixed in including manganese, silicon, phosphorus and sulfur. To remove these unwanted elements, iron must be 'smelted,' which is a process that removes the pure iron from the rest of the elements. Wrought iron is simply iron that has been worked, as 'wrought' literally means 'worked,' generally with a hammer. Wrought iron also contains anywhere from .02% to 0.8% carbon, which is absorbed from the charcoal during the process.
History
In the Middle Ages, wrought iron was used for nearly everything from weaponry to nails. As technology advanced, steel manufacturing grew in popularity, especially after the 1850s. Wrought iron was used in railroads for rails and nails. However, wrought iron---though strong---was not quite strong enough. Railroads that used wrought iron needed to be replaced frequently, some as soon as six weeks on high traffic routes. Wrought iron was also not used for construction due to its relative weakness and eventually became used only for decorative purposes.
Styles of Wrought Iron Columns
Wrought iron has been used decoratively inside and outside of homes for more than 100 years. In the United States, wrought iron balconies with decorative columns were popular in French-style Plantation and Colonial homes in the southern United States. Wrought iron columns also regained popularity in the 1950s throughout much of the United States and were used on porches and inside homes. Wrought iron columns could vary in style from extremely ornate to plain and simple. Flat columns featured patterns such as flowers, leaves, scrollwork or even geometric patterns and shapes.
Wrought Iron Column Care
When used outdoors, as it commonly is, wrought iron is often covered with paint. Wrought iron is often thought to be a maintenance-free material, but this is not entirely true. It can rust and should be inspected yearly. Rust can be scrapped off using a wire brush. If painted, the column should be entirely cleaned and any areas that have rusted should be scraped off and repainted.
Tags: United States, iron used, decorative purposes, iron also, iron columns
