We are very proud to be able to present you not only the work, but also the person, our dear colleague and true master of his field, Mr. František Toman.
František Toman (*1952) is an artistic blacksmith who has devoted his whole life to the craft. His work is dedicated to the creation of original sculptures. Thanks to his admirable skill, fantastic craftsmanship and unique style, his works are exhibited in prestigious galleries around the world.
In addition to forging his own artistic designs, he also works on the restoration of historical monuments, not only in the capital city Prague, but also in castles, chateaus and other landmarks across the Czech Republic. Even though he is over 70 years old, he still picks up a hammer and creates new works every day.
One of his latest pieces is the small Great Lady candlestick. It is an artistic rendition of the most powerful chess piece, the queen, which stands alongside the king and always significantly affects the whole game with its moves.
Steel plates are used for the candlestick‘s construction, the front side of which is decorated with rivets. The crown adorning the top of the sculpture is made of solid steel, making the whole work even more monumental. Under the crown the steel is a perforated and inside the sculpture there is a stand for placing a candle, which can be easily removed. The paint used for the surface treatment is a shade of blacksmith’s black, which, in addition to being very attractive, also acts as protection against corrosion.
Thanks to the combination of solid and perforated material, when the candle is lit there is a wonderful play of light. The flame in the lady’s heart illuminates the space around her, not only through the front aperture, but also through the upper holes, causing thin rays of light to shine from the crown.
Whether or not the flame glows in the lady’s heart, you can be sure that wherever you place the candlestick, it will become a stunning and dominant feature that will caress your soul every time you set your eyes on it.