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Premium Framed Print : Smelting Furnace - Sierra Leone, West Africa
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Smelting Furnace - Sierra Leone, West Africa
Smelting in a bloomery-type furnace in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
circa 1910s
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 20528773
© Mary Evans / Grenville Collins Postcard Collection
Fabrication Furnace Heat Heating Iron Leone Metallurgy Metalwork Metalworking Methods Process Sierra Smelting Technology
23"x19" (58x48cm) Premium Frame
FSC real wood frame with double mounted 16x12 print. Double mounted with white conservation mountboard. Frame moulding comprises stained composite natural wood veneers (Finger Jointed Pine) 39mm wide by 21mm thick. Archival quality Fujifilm CA photo paper mounted onto 1mm card. Overall outside dimensions are 23x19 inches (584x482mm). Rear features Framing tape to cover staples, 50mm Hanger plate, cork bumpers. Glazed with durable thick 2mm Acrylic to provide a virtually unbreakable glass-like finish. Acrylic Glass is far safer, more flexible and much lighter than typical mineral glass. Moreover, its higher translucency makes it a perfect carrier for photo prints. Acrylic allows a little more light to penetrate the surface than conventional glass and absorbs UV rays so that the image and the picture quality doesn't suffer under direct sunlight even after many years. Easily cleaned with a damp cloth. Please note that, to prevent the paper falling through the mount window and to prevent cropping of the original artwork, the visible print may be slightly smaller to allow the paper to be securely attached to the mount without any white edging showing and to match the aspect ratio of the original artwork.
FSC Real Wood Frame and Double Mounted with White Conservation Mountboard - Professionally Made and Ready to Hang
Estimated Image Size (if not cropped) is 25.3cm x 39.6cm (10" x 15.6")
Estimated Product Size is 48.2cm x 58.4cm (19" x 23")
These are individually made so all sizes are approximate
Artwork printed orientated as per the preview above, with portrait (vertical) orientation to match the source image.
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph, taken in the early 1910s, a skilled artisan in Sierra Leone, West Africa, is shown working at a traditional bloomery-type furnace. The image captures the intense heat and physical labor involved in the smelting process, as the furnace roars with flames and sparks fly. Bloomery-type furnaces were used for centuries in Africa and other parts of the world to extract iron from its raw ore. The process involved heating the iron ore in a crucible made of clay or other materials, which was then hammered into blooms or small ingots. These blooms could then be further refined or used to produce tools, weapons, or other metal objects. The scene depicted in the photograph is likely set in a rural area, as the furnace appears to be surrounded by lush vegetation and mud. The artisan, dressed in simple clothing, is focused intently on his work, using long iron rods to stir the molten iron and maintain an even temperature. The heat from the furnace is intense, and the air is filled with the sounds of sizzling metal and the rhythmic pounding of the hammer. Despite the primitive appearance of the equipment, the smelting process was a complex and sophisticated technology that required a deep understanding of metallurgy and industrial processes. The ability to extract iron from its raw form was a valuable skill, and the metal was a key component of trade networks that connected different regions of Africa and the wider world. This photograph offers a glimpse into the rich history of metalworking in West Africa and the important role that traditional techniques played in the production of iron and other metals. It also highlights the resilience and ingenuity of African artisans, who developed innovative methods to harness the power of fire and transform raw materials into valuable commodities.
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