| Long lasting outdoor furniture has traditionally been | | | | commercially viable, so some changes were made. It |
| made from wrought iron. In ancient times stone | | | | is not so much the cost of the iron alloy as the cost |
| works could have been the norm and are perhaps still | | | | in the manufacturing process (this material is excellent |
| are an alternative for specific areas in the world | | | | for the craftsman as compared to industrial |
| today, but the truth of the matter is that when | | | | production) that has brought about new materials |
| thinking of long term use and durability, wrought iron | | | | that imitate it. |
| springs to mind. This is both because of the styles | | | | Today furniture, accessories, fittings, railings and |
| and designs that have been used through the ages - | | | | decorative items that are presented as wrought iron, |
| chairs, tables, railings, gates among other types of | | | | have been made out of a mold (cast iron) and made |
| furniture and home features - and the production | | | | out of steel (versus iron). Wrought iron that is |
| process which included the alloy mixing process, | | | | authentic is an iron alloy that has great strength, is |
| which resulted in durable and attractive materials. | | | | resistant to corrosion and is malleable - hence |
| The term refers to both a specific type of metal and | | | | workable over a forge. The corrosion resistance is |
| the production process. Perhaps the most famous | | | | not exactly accurate as there is a certain amount of |
| furniture designs made from this type of iron are | | | | corrosion that can occur. But when it does the |
| Bistro furniture sets - chairs and tables mainly. Early | | | | properties of the iron allow it to spread the rust into |
| 20th century bistro cafe's owe their elegance and | | | | an appealing finish. |
| style to the iron making process. These have been a | | | | Outdoor furniture, railings and decorations that are |
| primary force behind the outdoor furniture popularity | | | | today presented as wrought iron are using this term |
| today although fireplaces and entrance gates in | | | | as a description of the type of design based on |
| manor houses also owe their quality good looks to | | | | styles that could be worked in forges - with the |
| wrought iron. | | | | twists and designs. The overall effect of these |
| As a metal it was a variety of iron that was flexible | | | | designs has made this type of outdoor furniture very |
| enough to twist. It used to be made in a forge just | | | | popular and stylish. Older, antique pieces will be true |
| as you imagine a blacksmith working over an anvil. | | | | wrought iron, both in style and material and many |
| This type of wrought iron, which in fact is a metal | | | | times become collectors items and high cost quality |
| alloy, has become too expensive to produce to be | | | | decor. |