When it comes to creating with metal, Prazen Forge Works can literally do anything. is company of Utah-based artists has created some truly amazing pieces, reflecting their client’s style, character and whimsy. In one home, they built a double grand staircase of 14-carat gold roses. In another, all the chairs tables, chandeliers, railings and gates were designed around a single theme. Clients have requested 20-foot tall horses, a 30-foot wide world globe spinning on its axis, even a colossal spider lawn ornament! From 25- by 14-foot wide ornamental doors to classic railings a mile long, Prazen specializes in fine, unusual, one-of-a-kind and fantasy metalwork.

Owner and Manager, Richard Prazen is a third-generation blacksmith born in Price, Utah. He began honing his skill 35 years ago, as soon as he was old enough to swing a blacksmith’s hammer. His masterful works of art grace museums and the finest houses throughout the West. He designed and sculpted eagles for the USAF Thunderbird Performance Flying Team and has been showered with awards. Prazen broke from the family business in 1996 and has built a team of incredible craftsmen in Prazen Forge Works.

Old World and international craftsmanship has been integrated into the company through artists such as Sergey Sakirkin, whose 31 years of forging have earned him praise and awards from around the world. He is an icon in Russia where he mastered the craft after obtaining degrees in both art and blacksmithing. Numerous articles have been written about both Sakirkin and Prazen, highlighting their talent and creations. They began working together in 2002 creating an artistic legacy in wrought iron sculpture including traditional Old World romantic railings, gates and chandeliers as well as contemporary designs in the most modem style.

Randy Meitler recently brought his 35 years of construction experience and knowledge with temples, cathedrals and casinos to the company, providing solutions to technical problems in both commercial and residential fabrications. As a draftsman and world-class blacksmith he has also won several prestigious national awards.

As a team, these three exceptional metal smiths have won several awards from the National Ornamental & Miscellaneous Metals Association (NOMMA), including “Best of the Best” and “Top Job.” e Artist Blacksmiths’ Association of North America (ABANA), American Welding Society and Creative Homes have honored these artisans for crafting some of the world’s most beautiful art gracing some of the world’s finest homes and commercial buildings as well as some of the West’s most exclusive resorts. Perhaps their biggest recognition is a growing stream of customers being referred to the company by happy owners of Prazen Masterpieces.

One Prazen Forge Works trademark is the color they are able to impart on metal sculptures, giving them a lifelike appearance. Most people assume that the pieces are dyed or painted with some special metallic paint; however nothing could be farther from the truth. All of the coloring is obtained through the natural process of welding and heating metal, learned thorough years of painstaking trial and error.

Many people want to know how Prazen obtains the look of fur on his animal pieces and are surprised to learn that each single hair is placed and welded by hand. Each feather on each bird and Native American headdress is hammered out individually before being welded in place. Perhaps the question asked most often is “how can a welder - a common blacksmith making forged metal gates - be so artistic and create such delicate works of art?” After struggling to answer this question seriously for many years, Prazen now just smiles and says, “It’s just a gift, I guess.”

Every Prazen Forge Works creation is a masterpiece created primarily from steel. However, they also excel in works of aluminum, brass, chrome, copper, stainless steel, wrought iron and bronze, plus combinations of several different media including metal, wood, glass, plastic and ceramics. Their artwork spans a range of styles and subjects from animals and birds to western themes, romantic figures, religious art and much, more. Prazen leads the field in designing and forging original ornamental pieces for pleasure and function as well as working with designers, architects and builders to fashion their creations. The Prazen motto is: “We combine the art of Old World craftsmanship with modern technology to create tomorrow’s heirlooms today.”

As a testimony to the company’s prestige and credentials they have been asked to create a school for artistic blacksmithing. Prazen, Sakirkin and Meitler are planning a curriculum to share their unique skills and information.

In addition to a large team of craftsmen, numerous office personnel are available during normal working hours to field questions, make quotations for new projects and take customer orders. No piece is allowed to leave the shop until it has passed the Prazen Test: a review by a master craftsman.

To contact Prazen Forge Works, call 901.973.0249 or send a fax to 901.973.0244. An on-line gallery of photographs can be viewed at www.prazen.net.