Caldwell Forge & Enamels is a husband and wife team located in the rolling hills of Northeast Mississippi.  June specializes in enameling, the ancient art of fusing ground glass to copper.  Harrison works at the forge, bending steel and copper intricate flowers and other forms.  Together, they create one-of-a-kind works of art, made by hand with care.
Steel pieces begin at the forge, where the metal is heated, bent, and hammered into shape.  Starting with samples of real flowers, photos, and sketches, Harrison coaxes the steel into beautiful petals, stamens, and stems, patiently working a small portion at a time before the metal cools and must be reheated.  Much of his work is done outdoor, where his inspiration began.
Copper pieces are worked without heat.  Flower parts are cut and shaped, then soldered in place.  Final forming is done by hand, using small tools to capture the details.  Many-petaled flowers, such as roses, take hours to form, as each petal is shaped and rolled individually.  Once the flower is complete, it is torched to bring out the beautiful natural colors inherent in the copper, then sealed to preserve the metal.
Enamels  Copper pieces to be enameled are cleaned and polished to remove all tarnish.  Depending on the effect desired, the copper may then be treated to a variety of different procedures before the enamel is applied.  In the case  of basse taille or champleve, a design is etched into the metal using an acid bath.  In cloisonné, the design is outlined in small, silver wire.  Once the copper is prepared, ground glass is carefully applied and fired.  Colors and patterns are built up in layers, with each piece requiring numerous firings at 1,500 degrees.