About the Guild

ABOUT US

The mission of the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild is to develop and encourage the craft of blacksmithing in Sweden and across the globe, through sharing ideas, collaborating on work, and educating new smiths. The Guild welcomes both working blacksmiths and members of the public. For those active in ironwork, it is a structure to share work and pool resources, increasing learning and productivity. Any member can enjoy the benefits of the Guild however, from participating in Blacksmithing Days, to designing and ordering work from our skilled craftsmen, to becoming an apprentice and starting their journey into the world of blacksmithing. To continue the tradition that has made blacksmithing thrive throughout the centuries, we use the titles of Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master to reflect the skill of our craftsmen. The standards for these titles have been carefully considered by working smiths, based on practical milestones that each smith experiences. This basis in craft brings authenticity to these terms, and in turn encourages a high standard of workmanship and craftsman’s pride.

WHAT IS A GUILD?

For centuries the guild structure served to develop and preserve knowledge, and educate the next generation of craftsmen. The guild was a brotherhood of craftsmen, working together, supporting one another, often with a central gathering location or guild hall. The sense of tradition was strong, the brotherhood fierce, the lasting results of which we can see in stunning examples of ironwork surviving to this day. The guild was an assurance of quality, a guarantee that the items produced by its craftsmen would be enduring and beautiful. The guilds guarded their secrets, often jealously, in the tumultuous times of the Middle Ages and onward. The hierarchy, secrecy, and loyalty among the members forged a bond that was like family. The passing of knowledge from one smith to the next through this system stretches back through history in an unbroken chain, each smith a link, each one responsible for the preservation of the craft.

In the present time, we believe there is no longer a need for secrecy. Our strength lies in sharing our knowledge and skills, encouraging interest in blacksmithing, and strengthening the foothold of this ancient craft in our modern lifestyle.

Working in the Guild

THE STUCTURE OF THE GUILD

As a resource for modern blacksmiths, the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild serves to benefit members in proportion to their commitment. The greater one’s engagement, the more possibilities are open. For members who are not active in the field of blacksmithing, but wish to support the Guild or take advantage of its services, the quarterly Blacksmith Days and annual Guild Gathering are opportunities to get a glimpse into the world of ironwork, meet the craftsmen of the guild, and be a part of the continuing guild tradition. They also receive guild publications and enjoy a discount on orders through the guild.  

Blacksmiths of all levels may further take advantage of the Guild’s resources through sharing excess work, completing commissions through the Guild, seeking advice or working with fellow members, and participating in all Guild events. In keeping with tradition, working members of the Guild have the titles of Apprentice, Journeyman, and Master to reflect the skill and experience of each smith and their time within the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild. Apprentices are beginning blacksmiths under the tutelage of more experienced smiths. Journeymen are skilled smiths, competent to have their own workshop and take on Apprentices, but still continuing their own development as craftsmen. Masters are those members who have worked as Journeymen for at least a decade, have shown a commitment to education or development within field of blacksmithing, and have a high level of skill in forging.

The North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild also acknowledges smiths and community members who have contributed to the field of blacksmithing. Individuals who have supported or created significant opportunities for the craft of blacksmithing may be invited as Honorary Members of the Guild. Retired members who are no longer actively working as blacksmiths are welcomed as Aldermen, honored within the Guild for their knowledge and advice.

A board of representatives is elected every two years to oversee the operations of the Guild, approve promotions of members to Journeyman or Master, and decide the direction the Guild will take within the community.

EDUCATION IN THE GUILD

Education is a crucial pillar of the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild. We believe the time tested system of hands-on learning is the most effective way to learn the craft, passing knowledge from one generation of working blacksmiths to the next. Beginning blacksmiths - or those wishing to step into the world of blacksmithing - may apply to become an Apprentice with one the of Guild’s Journeymen or Masters. An apprenticeship may last from three to five years in general, until the Apprentice has internalized the fundamentals of the craft and is confident to start on their own. At this stage they may take the Journeyman test and move to the next tier of the Guild.

Journeymen of the Guild are encouraged continue their education through travel, working with other blacksmiths, visiting blacksmith festivals, and creating their own workshop. Traveling journeymen from other countries and guilds are welcomed in the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild, to work, learn, and exchange knowledge. Journeymen may take on Apprentices, teach courses, and collaborate on Guild commissions.

Once the Journeyman has achieved an intimate knowledge of blacksmithing, an advanced level of skill, and has shown dedication to education or otherwise furthering the craft of blacksmithing, they may be eligible to take the Master test. Getting to this point can take between five and ten years, depending on the individual. It is not necessary to become a Master, but this level within the Guild acknowledges the highest level of craftsmanship and skill, and Masters are compensated for their work accordingly.

While an Apprentice has just one mentor, the community of the Guild encourages all working members to contribute. It is together, sharing our experience, time, and interests, that we build the North Hälsingland Blacksmiths Guild.