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Artisan Information

My interest in decorative aluminum began in 1990 when I attended the first Hammered Aluminum Show. I went seeking information about several pieces of Kensington ware that I had. Originally from the New Kensington area where Alcoa was located and Kensington ware was made, I had an interest in whether it was collectible. Once I saw the amazing variety of aluminum art I soon forgot about the reason I attended and began my journey looking primarily for pieces of hand wrought aluminum. I began collecting pieces not really knowing anything about them and soon had quite a collection. I then began asking questions about various pieces like where and when they were made and who produced them. I was surprised to find that not much was known about them.
I then began doing my own primary research into various producers and have amassed a large amount of source materials. I have also conducted interviews with many of the original artisans. I have written articles for antique journals and magazines and have also authored monographs about several artisans including Bruce Fox, Clayton Sheasley, Cartwright Castle-Art and John Findley/Frank Deets. These are professionally researched and written and are spiral bound. If interested go to the Cornerstone Press .
I continue to research various artisans and am particularly interested in those from Pennsylvania. I welcome information and pieces about the following producers; HC, Arthur Armour, Palmer Smith, Wendell August, Laird-Argental, Mansfeld, Hyman Blum and L. Gene Stewart. My research has also led me to vintage dies which I have acquired. My goal is to both preserve them and spread their art to new generations.

These are original pieces made by Henry Mansfeld. The silent butler has a wonderful stylized gazelle motif. The candleholders also have a graceful design incorporated into them. His pieces were marked either H. Mansfeld or Mansfeld P.P.P CO. Unfortunately many of his pieces also went unmarked making identification difficult.

Henry Mansfeld was a very skilled blacksmith who immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the early part of the last century. He worked for various companies fabricating ironwork. In the 1930's he began producing his own line of aluminum giftware using steel dies that he designed and engraved himself. Mansfeld was a self taught artist and drew inspiration from nature and art books to design his dies. Most are very styilized renditions of a floral nature but he also did some with horses and birds. They refect the Art Nouveau and Art Deco infuences that interested him. He sold the dies in the 1960's and they layed unused but well cared for until 1997 when I acquired them along with his tools and forms. In 1999, I began making pieces with them and marking them "Hand Wrought Mansfeld by Dennis" in honor of him.

Clever original piece by Rev. L. Gene Stewart using 2 different dies. The Praying Hands are surrounded by Appleblossom. His pieces are marked "Hand Wrought by L. Gene Stewart". The die motifs are very straightforward and realistic, reflecting various plants, dogs, deer and ducks.

Rev. L. Gene Stewart began producing aluminum in the late 1940's and continued throughout most of his life. He designed and engraved his steel dies to use in making aluminum giftware. As a minister, he used his aluminum work to both ease tension and help raise money for the parishes. I acquired these dies, forms, tools and hand stamp in 2003 and now make items with them. They are marked "Hand Wrought L. Gene Stewart by Dennis" to honor him. .

Showcase exhibiting some of my personal collection from the Aluminuts Collectors exhibit within the Aluminum by Design exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art from 2000-2001. My focus was on little known Pennsylvania aluminum artisans. Pieces shown were made by Hyman Blum, Eugene Town, Palmer-Smith, Cartwright Castle -Art, Henry Mansfeld, James DePonceau, Shup Laird, John W. Findley, Clayton Sheasley, Laird and Mansfeld by Dennis.

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Attention: The information on this page is for your enjoyment only. Please do not use it for your own personal gain by placing it on your website or on ebay. I spent considerable time and money acquiring this information. If you wish to use it please ask first. Thank you