An Artisan with Royal Connection

A small horseshoe nailed to the handle of a
wooden toolbox (see photo in old photo Gallery)
is a treasured,sentimental reminder og another
time and place in the life of Rene' Rasmussen.

In his homeland Denmark,Rene' being a farrier trained
in orthopaedic horseshoeing,was once appointed
to the Danish Royal Stables to shoe all the Queen's horses
and artistic blacksmiting at some of the Queens castle's..
(see photo in old photo Gallery)
 
The particular horseshoe was from the first horse
owned and ridden by Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark,
as a youngster.
As Rene' shoed this hose,the shoe is priceless keeepsake
of a future king who is today making world headlines
with his Australian-born wife, Princess Mary.

The traditions of Blacksmith and iron artisan date back
many generations in the Rasmussen family,back to 1784.

Rene' still today uses many of the tools used more than
150 years ago in his specialised craft as a hand forger.

So it was little wonder that Rene followed his
grandfather and uncles into the craft in 1969

 
Rene's Granddad in his workshop
 
He served his apprenticeship working for a contractor
to Carlsberg Breweries in Copenhagen ,
maintaining and shoeing the team of Danish draft horses
and did artistic blacksmith work in Copenhagen

At the completion og his apprenticeship he undertook a 
course at the Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University
in Copenhagen to be come a certified farrier.

  When his old master retired,the breweries asked Rene'
to take over his contract at Carlsberg and the same
did the Danish Royal Stables.

He cared for the horses at both establishments
in the morning and then worked in his
blacksmith shop in the afternoon.

He specialised in artistic restoration work
for churches,heritage buildings and architects.


The Master's Apprentice... Judith (his wife)

The couple work together creating original
one-off major works for a discerning client base
from around Australia and the Hunter.

When times allows,Judith follow her own creative pursuits,
sculpting her original-design wine raks,candelabras and the like.

She always knitted and sewed and could envisage design patterns
for the steel,(needle and treath didn't work )so she had to learn
how to weld,she inrolled in a boilermaker apprenticeship
course in a class of young men who were starting their working careers.

It was a bit daunting at first; however,
I was finally accepted as one of them and became the class grandmother.

She completed the course as a diploma certified welderwith a good knowledge of fabrication and steel manufacture.

Rene' and Judith
Emigrated to Australia in 1995,along with shipping container packed
with Rene's heirloom blacksmith's tools, ready to start a new
life in Australia.

Initially,Rene' worked two jobs,as a resident blacksmith at
Australia's Wonderland,Penrith, and part time in Beaumont Street,
Hamilton Blacksmith shop before its demolition,which was formerly owned
by the late Trevor Hazel.

Today
the couple live in tranquil bushland, near Cessnock,
in the Lower Hunter Valley, which offers a creative ambience
to the master iron forger who is one of the few who
still practises the age-old,intricate craft.



The old photo Gallery is under construction
more photo to come