A Quest for Iron Age Turquoise exhibit open at Meredith Fine Craft Gallery

MEREDITH — The Meredith League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Craft Gallery will host a new exhibit, Foundry Finds — A Quest for Iron Age Turquoise. In this exhibit, Lucy Golden, an innovative and masterful jewelry artist, has created jewelry that celebrates New Hampshire’s iron roots and the beauty in slag. This special event highlights the crucial role the iron industry played in the economic and industrial development of the Granite State and how its byproducts, once discarded, are now being reimagined as stunning works of wearable art through Golden’s artistic vision.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, New Hampshire’s iron industry fueled everything from railroads and tools to shipbuilding, farming equipment, and stove casting. Ironworks in towns that helped establish a self-sustaining economy were Franconia, the largest and longest running operation; Gilmanton Iron Works as second; Exeter, which was established early but didn’t last long; and Tamworth. These hard-working companies made New Hampshire an early leader in American industrialization.

In particular, Gilmanton Iron Works relied on bog iron ore that was brought up from Crystal Lake from a depth of 20 feet at times. Hussey Manufacturing Company, a company that still exists today but has since moved to Maine, heralded the development and production of plows that were revolutionary for their time. 

So, what is slag? Slag is a glass-like byproduct formed when impurities are separated from molten iron during the smelting process. It is the non-metallic residue that floats on top of the molten metal during smelting, protecting it from oxidation. Historically seen as waste, slag is now gaining a new recognition for its unexpected beauty and historical significance. In Golden’s jewelry, it manifests as a beautiful turquoise stone.  

Golden has creatively incorporated slag fragments into her handcrafted jewelry, turning industrial waste into beautiful treasures. 

The exhibit is open through Monday, June 30.

For more information, visit nhcrafts.org/meredith