Robert Noelke digs the earth – and what’s beneath it.
His passion: to fashion fire and flame into phenomenal works of art and architecture – right in your
own backyard.
His process: Raw materials, iron, for example, are fired-up on a forge (furnace). Like the Roman god, Vulcan, Robert heats the metal, turning it into a molten, red-hot glob, ready for hammering and manipulating – you know, the fun, smashing part. Air, fire, and water are Robert’s essential elements. Without them, metal would remain … well, unsmashed.
Robert Noelke
Once the metal is molten, it might become: a support, a railing, a sculpture, a piece of furniture.
That decided, how shall the railings/furnishings be adorned? Appalachian flora and fauna are Robert’s go-to subjects. Growing up, his elders/mentors were accomplished mechanics. They also immersed him in nature. He is equally comfortable in creating organic or man-made designs.
An outsider might think Robert is living a Marvel comic-epic, complete with Roman god. But he lives every minute of his fascinating life in real time, simply enjoying an ancient craft, that literally built an iron world starting around 1500 BCE. Every blow of the hammer has impacted the world since.
Robert has been introducing another kind of world to the mountains: he’s turning drab yards into Backyard Dreamscapes.
He’s turning ordinary patios into cool decks with creative carpentry and bold, unique surprises. Robert is not just a blacksmith. He is also a crackerjack wood-craftsman. And that is a crazy-cool, rewarding combination.
Robert says, “When designing, I usually visit a client’s home and get a feel for them. I try to repeat their requests and tweak their vision. Once we are in agreement, I do my best and routinely please every client.”
When you get a chance, ask Robert about custom repousse, hand-designed/forged steel adornments, copper work, hammered address inscriptions, castings, and more. He’s an accomplished metal restorer from vintage chandeliers to antique railings. And he is a consummate repairperson, top-to-bottom of your home.
The other half of the Noelke duo is his wife, jewelry artist, Shannon, who was featured earlier this year in The Laurel.
Contact Robert Noelke Customs in Otto at (828) 342-7555, or Robertnoelkecustoms@gmail.com or Instagram/ robert_noelke_art. Visit his webpage for examples of his heirloom work at shannonnoelkemetalarts.com/pages/robert-noelke-customs.
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