Sheffield, Made at Kelham Island Museum

Galvanize Sheffield - Festival of Contemporary Metal 6 Nov - 6 Dec 2009

Little Mesters continue 'Made in Sheffield' tradition at Kelham Island Museum

Little Mesters, independent Sheffield craftsmen responsible for the city's legendary reputation in cutlery and master craftsmanship, showcased their skilled tradition at the ‘Sheffield Made' open day at Kelham Island Museum on Sunday 15 November.

The event, one of many taking place across the city between 6 November and 6 December as part of ‘Galvanize Sheffield - Festival of Contemporary Metal', allowed Museum visitors the chance to see Little Mesters, Pete Goss and Stan Shaw, at work in their workshops.

Based in the Museum's reconstructed 'Little Mesters' Street, the resident master craftsmen make up two of the few remaining Little Mesters left in the city, producing a variety of products including Penknives and Surgical Instruments that are sold all over the world.

Joining them inside the Museum, Ernest Wright (Kutrite) provided a shining display of handmade scissors, produced utilising skills and processes first learned by the Little Mesters and passed down from master to apprentice at their family-run company based locally in the Kelham Island area since 1902.

The Cutlery Hosptial Live team, part of Chimo Holdings, were at hand to give advice and some good old fashioned TLC to cutlery brought along by Museum visitors wanting to restore their tired, old and infirm tableware to its former glory.

In the courtyard, Ridgeway Forge demonstrated traditional forge work and helped youngsters make their very own ‘forged' iron snails to take home and treasure.

The Little Mesters, along with Ridgeway Forge, Ernest Wright (Kutrite) and the Cutlery Hospital Live team will also be appearing at the Kelham Island Museum Victorian Christmas Market on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December.

Click here to see more events taking place as part of the Galvanize Sheffield Festival and download a Galvanize brochure