Handwerkskunst!

How hard it is to forge a gate (1x1)

Air date: Oct 16, 2015

Thomas-Maria Schmidt from Höheischweiler in the Palatinate is no stranger to his trade. On the contrary: he is regarded as one of the best blacksmiths in Germany. No wonder he and his art are in demand throughout the region. His current commission is to forge a large gate for the interior of the Catholic church in Contwig. And it's quite something. It is to be more than two meters wide and over three meters high - beautiful, simple, graceful, unique. The question is: how does it work? How do you actually make a gate like this? The film shows it: from the initial consultations with the architect of the Speyer diocese to the measurements, the first drawings, the delivery of the material and the actual forging process, right through to the assembly and installation in the church. The work took six days - craftsmanship at its finest.