"Magic From Fire: The Artistry of Samuel Yellin." Angus Everton
Samuel Yellin Metal Works, 1915
5520 Arch Street, Philadelphia PA 19139
© Preston Thayer and Jed
Porter, Workshop of the World (Oliver Evans Press,
1990).
In this workshop, Samuel
Yellin, a Polish immigrant who arrived in Philadelphia in
1906, practiced his craft as America's most renowned
metalworker. Designed in 1915 by the prestigious firm of
Mellor and Meigs of Philadelphia, the shop served as his
studio until his death in 1940; presently, it is still
operating as a metal working shop and forge; it also
houses the Samuel Yellin Foundation. 1
Examples of his
work in wrought iron are found on the facade and include
the gates as well as the grates over the windows. The
interior of the front portion exhibits walls of stucco,
beams in the ceiling, and built-in furnishings and
contains a collection of his work. In contrast to
the appearance of this portion, the rear portion of red
brick is more restrained and serves as the workshop
itself. 2
The greater size of this workshop (an earlier shop at 409
North Fifth Street was located on a cramped fourth floor)
permitted the acceptance of more commissions. By 1920,
two hundred laborers were employed with sixty forges in
operation, at which time a second building was added
adjacent to the first. Subsequently the shop expanded
into a third building across North Allison Street. Among
the countless pieces produced for residences, banks, and
universities were the gate for the Packard Building on
Chestnut Street and the door for the Curtis Institute of
Music, at Rittenhouse Square and Locust Street.
3
© PhillyHistory.org
Samuel Yellin's Metal Works Shop survives as one of the
most intact blacksmithing forges in the world, housing a
museum of his work, a library dedicated to the history of
the craft, and the tools and drawings used to complete
the body of the work during his family's operations.
© PhillyHistory.org
1 Jack Andrews,
Samuel
Yellin, Metalworker (Philadelphia, 1982), pp.
1-3.
2 Randal Baron,
"Samuel
Yellin Metal Works," West Philadelphia
Historic Sites Survey, Philadelphia Historical
Commission, (Philadelphia, 30 August 1985), p. 1.
3 Andrews, pp. 2 and 15.
Update May
2007 (by
Harry Kyriakodis):
The Yellin shop was demolished sometime after being
abandoned in 1993. However, the Yellin Metalworkers
Company still exists, currently operated under the
direction of Clare Yellin, Samuel Yellin's granddaughter.
Now located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, the small
firm produces the same quality custom work that the
Yellin name has been known for since the early 20th
century.