The craft
Tucked away in the woods of Maine, the scorching hot forge of Black Dog Ironworks keeps the winter chill away. It’s warm red glow lights up the workshop for Matthew Foster, the shops owner. Often hard at work, Matt and team create distinctive hand forged objects that challenge the integrity of any store bought substitute. An artist at heart, he considers each of his designs to be reflections of the unique rustic character that defines much of northern Maine. With focus and purposeful action, each piece is thoughtfully crafted with hammer and anvil. Once in hand, the weight and visceral significance of each item defines them as heirlooms.
HANDMADE IN MAINE
I'm Matt Foster, the owner and operator of Black Dog Ironworks, LLC. I first started my blacksmithing journey while studying sculpture at the University of Maine in 2009. The sculpture studio had a small forging set-up consisting of a couple of anvils, a forge, and a vice. I used the basics of the craft to incorporate forged elements into my sculptural work.
I later continued my education independently by reading every blacksmithing book I could get my hands on, as well as watching every Youtube video and reading everything on the web that I could find about the subject. Black Dog Ironworks started as a hobby project, using my skills as a blacksmith to earn some extra income. I set up my tiny garage studio in 2014 in Milo, Maine where I started forging wall hooks and coat racks for customers.
After a few months of steady work everything blew up! We had more work than we could make. It eventually got to the point where I quit my day job to pursue Black Dog Ironworks full time in May of 2015. My growing family eventually moved to Enfield, Maine where our new shop now resides. We've continued to grow, adding over 20 new products in 2020 and hiring our first official employee in February of 2021. Find us on Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram to follow along as we continue our fiery blacksmithing journey.
Previous Clients
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