A second life for iron
- Josselin creates sculptures, furniture, chandeliers and architectural pieces
- His main source of inspiration is nature
- He collaborates with stained glass artists, boilermakers and turners
Through blacksmithing, Josselin Méhat carries forward a family tradition that was left aside for two generations before he picked it up. "After studying art history, I started looking for a more tactile practice, so I joined a cinema construction team," he says. Josselin learned metalworking techniques by producing show accessories, reading 18th and 19th-century forging manuals and meeting master blacksmiths across France. He began his career by making copies of chandeliers, art bases and designer furniture in collaboration with a stained glass artist. In 2001, Josselin founded his workshop near Toulouse and shifted toward architectural ironwork. Inspired by Art Nouveau, Art Deco and traditional ironwork, he combines classic forging techniques with contemporary creations. "I aim to sublimate the inert material to give it life," he explains.
INTERVIEW
The process of sculpting with hot metal forces me to expect deformations and creates a certain urgency to intervene with a chisel and hammer. It is also the most exciting part of my practice because it demands high technical skills and proposes a physical challenge.
In 2001, I moved from Paris to a town close to Toulouse, where I launched my own business. As furniture work was not in high demand, I turned to architectural ironwork. I had experience in renovation and construction, but steelwork sculpting was new to me.
One of iron’s great qualities is that it can be reshaped. Blacksmiths can repair, adapt and reuse old objects and materials, transforming them rather than discarding them. Unfortunately, even locally sold construction iron or steel are now rarely produced in France.
Modern technology, such as digital programming and laser cutting, helps accelerate the making process, but still has no effect on the cost of running a workshop. I would rather collaborate with specialists in cutting and skilled boilermakers and turners.
