User:UncleIrv/Cyril Colnik

Cyril Colnik (1871-1958) was an Austrian-born artisan metalsmith. Prolific throughout the first half of the twentieth century, he designed and created custom ornate metalwork from his studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Often called "the Tiffany of wrought iron masters," His unique mastery and style gained Colnik national fame as "one of the foremost metal craftsmen of his time."

Early life
Colnik was born in Trieben, Austria. He apprenticed in Vienna, continuing his studies in France, Switzerland, Spain and Italy before completing them at the Munich Industrial Art School in Munich, Germany. Recognized as a gifted student, at age 22 Cyril was selected by the master artisan Reinhold Kirsch to be part of his German ironworking team sent to Chicago for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893. There, Colnik created an ornate wrought-iron panel regarded as the masterpiece that established his career:

"Here, Vulcan, the god of fire, snarls menacingly amid a veritable tornado of leaves and vines. The detail is breathtaking: each tiny tooth perfectly rendered, bat-like wings unfurled, ears pricked, sinewy arms dissolving into a scroll."

The work captured the attention of Captain Frederick Pabst, founder of the Pabst Brewing Company, who promptly convinced Colnik to settle in Milwaukee, a city with a large German-speaking population and a high regard for artisanship in its architecture.

Milwaukee studio
After opening his studio in Milwaukee, Colnik established a large patronage of Midwest architects who came to regard him as the premier provider of ornamental metalwork. His work became iconic with Milwaukee architecture and his reputation spread across the country. Large architectural jobs often required the production of massive amounts of ironwork within a short time. To meet this need, Colnik trained apprentices in his exacting standards. But Colnik always personally designed each piece and oversaw its production.

Besides large contracts, Colnik also welcomed small jobs from the local elite, producing a large number of small, one-of-a-kind items such as candelabra, lamps, balustrades, gates, decorative panels, furniture, door knobs, clocks, picture frames and fireplace tools. While noted for his embrace of German Realism in the depiction of nature, he also prided himself in his ability to work in any style requested by his customers. Consequently, he became regarded as a master of any style, from Baroque to Art Deco.

As a pacifist, Colnik was deeply troubled by the First World War. He came upon hard times during the Great Depression, but managed to keep his shop in production by sometimes paying his workers out of his own savings. Because of the scarcity of cash customers during this time, he produced wrought-iron fences and gates for the Wisconsin Memorial Park in barter for cemetery plots.

After World War Two, as architectural tastes began to change, some of the buildings containing Colnik's work were demolished. Whenever possible, he salvaged his pieces from these structures before they were torn down, amassing a sizable collection which he displayed at his home studio. Colnik continued creating custom metalwork until shortly before his death in 1958.

Examples of work
Colnik's work can still be seen in many historic mansions, churches and public buildings in Milwaukee and across America. Notable examples are found in the Milwaukee City Hall, Herman Uihlein House, Charles Allis House and Pabst Mansion in Milwaukee, the Insul and Ryerson homes in Chicago, and the Ringling Mansion in Sarasota, Florida.

Colnik passed this personal collection to his daughter, Gretchen, who continued to exhibit it and provide informal talks about her father's work. Upon her death, she bequeathed the collection to the Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, which now maintains a permanent exhibit devoted exclusively to Colnik. Many prime examples of his work can be seen there, including his 1893 masterpiece from the Chicago World's Fair.