Marsha Sue Trattner makes hand-forged steel home objects, focusing on tableware and cookware, as well as lighting, garden structures, and architectural metal work.
Some of the work, as in the lamps, are made of an accumulation of forged rod lines or shapes. Each work, even in series, is made one at a time, and is therefore unique.
To make the pieces, she first hand-hammers the metal to give it texture and dimensionality. Then, she selectively welds the parts using an oxy-acetylene torch. The torch enables visual flow in the pieces, creating the pieces much like a drawing in space. By working free-hand, rather than over a mold, keeps each piece airy and fresh.
To make the pie pans and pizza pans, she hand-cuts steel plate into circles or ovals. Then she forges (hammers and shapes) the metal at 1800 degrees around various forms to create the desired depths and shapes. Forged steel handles are welded to some of the pans. Then the pans are fully seasoned with multiple layers of cooking oil. Besides giving the pans that rich dark color, these carbon steel pans are fully functional. They come ready to cook or bake in, easy to maintain and clean up, and also lend themselves to a gorgeous serving presentation. No two pieces are exactly alike in form and texture, as well as character. Viewers/clients respond to having subtle choices and finding that very special one.