José Luis Esteban Huelamo

Blacksmith

A lifelong passion for blacksmithing

José Luis is the third generation in his family to be a blacksmith
He strives for perfection in the lines and details of his pieces
Riveting is one of his signature techniques for joining iron bars

José Luis Esteban Huelamo was taught his craft by his grandfather and father who passed down their artisanal knowledge to him. “In addition, my curiosity and eagerness to keep learning have led me to innovate with new trends and ways of working with iron, adapting to modern styles,” he says. José Luis chose this profession because he found it fascinating to shape such a hard and rigid material into warm, fluid designs. “I knew that if I combined my manual skills with my creativity, I could bring projects to life that would fill me with enthusiasm. There is nothing better than working on something you are passionate about,” he says. One of José Luis' preferred techniques is riveting, which is the joining of iron bars without welding, by inserting a pin through the two bars and crushing the ends. "It is a technique that is rarely used nowadays, but it is how our ancestors used to make joints when there were no welds," he explains.

Interview

Is there a strong blacksmithing tradition in your region?: I live in a small village in La Manchuela, and this region has a deep-rooted tradition in ironwork. We see this in the balconies and façades adorned with Castilian-style railings, grand balustrades, and iron gates on many buildings. Ironwork is also used in well curbs, town squares and churches.
Would you say your work is more traditional or innovative?: The foundation of blacksmithing lies in the traditional use of the forge, hammer and anvil. However, it is also essential to incorporate modern innovations such as presses, laser-cutting equipment, and state-of-the-art welding techniques to enhance the artistic process.
Do you have a guiding philosophy in your work?: A job well done. Ensuring that both the process and the final result are perfect, and that the client is completely satisfied, are my top priority.
What is your approach to your craft?: Before delivering a piece, I inspect it meticulously to ensure the parts fit perfectly, that there are no imperfections, and that the piece is precisely what the client requested. This care is why people come to an artisan workshop rather than opting for an industrially-made piece.

José Luis Esteban Huelamo is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1994