Mauro García de Pablos

Forged elements, Locksmithing

NAME:

ADDRESS:

Calle Camino Romano, 9 – 40195 Revenga

DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK

The master blacksmith Mauro García de Pablos carries out locksmithing works and others using forged iron. He carries them out by hand, in an artisanal way, using traditional techniques.

He comes from a family of blacksmiths dedicated to the manufacture of axes and tools.

The main works he carries out are: grilles, balconies, handrails, doors, parapets for wells, lamps, wall lamps, door knockers, andirons and lanterns. All of these elements are manufactured by hand without the use of industrial-made pieces.

The tools he uses are: the traditional forge, a drop hammer dating over 100 years back, double horned anvils, pincers, hammers, mezzalunas, slitting tools, rompederas, files, punches, etc., as well as other old manual tools inherited from other blacksmiths from Segovia.

He masters several techniques such as hammer forging, filling pieces, riveting unions, forge welding of the irons, collaring, welding with brass using the forge, embossment and chiselling of the metals, etc. The finishing coats consist of a patina made of natural oxide with wax for the interiors and paint and varnishes for the exteriors.

His works cover different styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, etc. Many follow the popular style from Segovia, being an example the so-called balconies de lazo segoviano. He has special preference for the Renaissance style, since it is in this style where the work with iron can be most appreciated: both in its forging and embossment, its chiselling, filing, and also by using other types of metals, etc.

In his workshop he continues to keep a sharp eye on how to turn into useful tools for the craft those of other artisans, such as pointers, picks, chisels, axes, mattocks, adzes, etc.

APPRENTICESHIP

Professional Training Diploma II: Metal and Specialized in Automatisms, Pneumatics and Oleohydraulics at the Instituto de Formación Profesional Ángel del Alcázar, in Segovia (today IFP La Albuera).

First course on Artistic Forging at the School of Applied Arts and Artistic Crafts number 1 in Madrid (today School of Arts La Palma).

He learnt the art of forging from the master Mr. Pablo Gómez Barreno, who at the same time learnt the craft from Mr. Juan Callejo San José, one of the best Spanish blacksmiths. Both of them were teachers at the schools of Professional Training.

TEACHING

He has carried out live workshops in small villages of the province, using forges which have been restored, such as, for example, the one in Carrascal del Río.

SELECTED WORKS

Grilles and balconies following the aforementioned popular style from Segovia.

He is the co-author together with Mr. Bonifacio Bartolomé Herrero and Mr. Francisco Javier Martín Sánchez of the book titled Rejas de Segovia which goes through the best old grilles of the streets in Segovia, and the grilles of the chapels of the Cathedral and other emblematic buildings of the city.