Two distinguished architects, Mr. Maxwell Ayrton and Mr. Arnold Sikock,
have produced a most valuable and stimulating book on Wrought Iron and Its Decorative Use (Country Life, 42s.). Their historical account contains much new matter—even correcting Mr. Starkie Gardner. But while it is good to review the past glories of the smith, it is still better to show, as the authors do in a closing chapter, that the art has revived in England of late years and that there are modern craftsmen who can handle this difficult material not less skilfully or tastefully than their predecessors like Tijou or Bateman or Edney. In Tljou's magnificent work at St. Paul's the authors recognize the dominant influence of Wren. They have discovered that the fine gates of Chirk Castle were made not by two local smiths named Roberts but by Robert and John Davies of Bersham, who must henceforth be remembered among our masters of wrought iron. The book is superbly illustrated.
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