Time & Space Sculpture Unveiled in New Location at Cleveland Hopkins Airport

November 2023

Time and Space, a historic sculpture designed by Viktor Schreckengost and created by Rose Iron Works in 1956, was returned to public view at Cleveland Hopkins Airport.

The sculpture, which was placed into storage when the terminal was renovated in the early 1990’s, was restored by ICA and prominently relocated to the Central Lobby Checkpoint for visitors to enjoy.  “Time and Space was originally created as a collaborative effort between Vik Schreckengost, Melvin Rose and the craftsmen at Rose Iron Works’ studio,” said Robert B. Rose, President of Rose Iron Works. “We are proud of it and delighted that it will again be within public view.” 

Read More

https://www.clevelandairport.com/historic-permanent-art-exhibit-unveiled-cle

May 14, 2017

We are excited to announce the 2017 World Congress to be held in Cleveland from May 14-21.

This Congress will focus on the works of distinguished artists, designers, and craftsmen in America’s industrial heartland.

Rose Iron Works will be featured.

Bob Rose, third generation president, will present Rose Iron’s history, including Paul Feher’s tenure as resident designer, and its contribution to the American Art Deco Movement.

The attendees will tour Rose Iron Works.

Pre-Congress events in Cincinnati and Detroit, as well as Post-Congress activities in Pittsburgh and a visit to Fallingwater will all celebrate exciting American Modernist design.

Dates for all activities include:

Cincinnati Pre-Congress – May 7-10, 2017

Detroit Pre-Congress – May 11-13, 2017

Cleveland World Congress – May 14-21, 2017

Pittsburgh Post-Congress – May 21-24, 2017

For the most up-to-date event information and registration details, visit the official Congress site at ArtDecoWorldCongress.org.

The event is organized and hosted by Mick Beyer, head of the 20th Century Society

April 7, 2017- January 14, 2018

The Jazz Age: American Style in the 1920s

Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, NY April 7–August 20, 2017

Cleveland Museum of Art Sept 30-January 14, 2018

The first major museum exhibition to focus on American taste during the creative explosion of the 1920s, The Jazz Age will be a multi-media experience of more than 400 examples of interior design, industrial design, decorative art, jewelry, fashion, architecture, music, and film. Giving full expression to the decade’s diversity and dynamism, The Jazz Age will define the American spirit of the period. Several historic pieces produced by Rose Iron Works between 1926-31 are included in the show. We are honored that a detail of our Muse with Violin screen is featured as the cover of the catalog for this exciting show.

Read about the show

JAZZ AGE: AMERICAN STYLE 1920s: Review By Polly Guerin

A Jazz Age Exhibition With a Syncopated Sweep

March 31, 2017

Article in the Lakewood Observer, by Gaynel Mellino, describing Overlook Park Neighborhood Association’s visit, and is much appreciated.

January 12, 2017

RIW is Featured by Freshwater

We are proud that Erin O’Brien featured us in her article Five Rust Belt Places that rock the Flats!

In her article, she mentions that our historic work will be included in the Jazz Age Show opening at the Cooper Hewitt Museum, NYC in April 2017. The show, which will include the Muse with Violin screen, a spectacular Deco console table and companion mirror and the railing which once graced the balcony at the Drury Theater, will travel to The Cleveland Museum of Art in September 2017 … stay tuned!!

June 6, 2016

RIW is Featured by Fox8 newday Cleveland

We are proud to be included in Fox8’s newday Cleveland feature Century in Cleveland. In it, David Moss and Natalie Herbick showcase a variety of Cleveland icons. The interview with Bob Rose provides a glimpse into our 112 year heritage as well as provides video of production at our forge shop as well as robotic welding facility

April 21, 2016

Bob Rose is Moderator for Agents of Ingenuity

Ned Hill, Professor of Public Affairs and City & Regional Planning at the Ohio State University; Kelly Falcone-Hall, President & CEO of the Western Reserve Historical Society, and David Allen Moss of Moss Media presented a podcast conversation, moderated by Kathy Cook and Bob Rose, about Industrial Design’s influence on Cleveland’s past and future. While the discussion primarily focused on industrial design, Bob offered insight into Cleveland’s rich artistic design heritage with commentary about family lifetime friend Viktor Schreckengost and others who have enhanced the aesthetic appeal of hundreds of items designed in or by Clevelanders.

January 2016

RIW Introduces Urban Iron Wall Sculpture Series

Cleveland #1 – View from the River is the first in our Urban Iron limited edition wall sculpture series.

The eight foot wide piece depicts the excitement of Cleveland’s skyline in gracefully crafted outline, enriched with engraved, embossed and forged textures.

The original design is by Brad Rose with unique interpretation in steel by Bob Rose and RIW’s art blacksmith staff. The next design, awaiting a commission, will be the view from Lake Erie. Cleveland #1 is currently available for viewing in our studio conference room. Custom sculptures are also available.

April 14, 2015

Light Fixtures Installed at Cleveland 3rd District Police Station

The fixtures described below are now illuminating the entrance of the new 3rd District Police Station. We are honored to have contributed to the enhancement of such an exciting new addition to Cleveland. The station has been rightfully heralded as a new wave in creating a welcoming atmosphere for our community. Erin Obrien of Fresh Water Cleveland shares our pride in Commander Pat Stephens’ (and his team’s) service to our neighborhood. We are grateful to Steve Manka and Steve Yusko for their assistance with the fixture’s design as well as to Repko, Atom Blasting and American Japanning for their skills of laser cutting, sandblasting and painting respectively.

February 6 – May 17, 2015

RIW’s railing is showcased at A Tradition of Progress – Ohio Decorative Arts 1865-1945

Several Rose Iron Works historic pieces as well as original drawings by Paul Feher are being displayed at The Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Lancaster, Ohio. The show is curated by Andrew Richmond.

Here are a few pics taken at the opening. The railing section, an example of Martin Roses’ finest work, is one which was made for the Drury Theater of the Cleveland Playhouse in the late 20’s. The lamp is one designed by Paul Feher in 1930 .. and is still in production today!

Read more about it in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette.

January 27, 2015

Light Fixtures for New Police Station

In mid 2014, Rose Iron Works’ design team of Steve Yusko and Bob Rose, assisted by Steve Manka – Manka Design Studio won the public arts competition sponsored by Land Studio to fabricate a pair of entrance light fixtures for the new3rd District Cleveland Police Station. The design has now been formally approved and a wooden mock-up viewed by the committee to facilitate decisions regarding color and lighting of both our fixtures and the portal decoration, designed by artist Laura Cooperman and being fabricated by Signature Lighting, Cleveland. Check back for future updates!

January 21 – February 6, 2015

Artist-in-Residence Stephen Yusko – Current work in show

Richard & Dolly Maass Gallery

Purchase College – School of the Arts

State University of New York

More information

December 2014

Holiday Boutique

Great to have shared this event with many friends!

For those we missed … perhaps we’ll see you at the next one!

Holiday Boutique

One day only this year!

Thursday, December 12th

1 pm to 7 pm

A Note from Bob Rose:

We’ve decided not to host a full open house this year, perhaps repeating them every two years … but wish to provide an opportunity for you to acquire those special presents.

November 23, 2014

RIW is chosen to create Onion Top for restored Euclid Beach Carousel.

We were chosen by Raymond Rackley and John Frato of the Euclid Beach Carousel Society to design and produce an onion shaped top for the original carousel being restored by The Carousel Works and installed in a new addition to The Western Reserve Historical Society’s museum in University Circle, Cleveland. The carousel has a unique place in Cleveland’s heart .. and will delight riders of all ages in its new home. The society wanted to top the carousel with a piece as close to the one on the original building as possible (pictured below) We are honored to play a role in providing the “capping jewel” for this project!!

More fun pictures and reading about this historic project!

November 21, 2013

New Chandelier for the Ohio Governor’s Residence

We are honored to announce that we were selected to create a period representative chandelier for the living room of the Ohio Governor’s Residence in Bexley, Ohio.

After a prolonged search for a site appropriate fixture for the room the Friends of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Gardens, with guidance from the Ohio Historical Society, chose us to create a chandelier based on a design offered by the Cincinnati Artistic Ironworks, active at the turn of the Century … but enriched with Rose Iron Works flair. We are proud to explain that First Lady and Governor Kasich specifically wished to showcase Ohio artists and craftsmen for this delightful project. Read about Construction & Read News Article.

July 2013

Balcony Railings Restored

RIW completed an extensive restoration of the balconies for a historically significant building in Rochester, Michigan. The building, known to locals as the Chapman House, is being converted into a French-inspired restaurant, specialty food & wine store, and a special event venue. It’s scheduled to be complete and open to the public in the spring of 2014. Read more

November 19, 2012

The Hangar is a Hidden Art Deco Gem

Rose Iron Works was featured in an in depth article about The Hangar, an elegant sports complex designed by Abram Garfield, which was added to the Dudley S Blossom estate in 1930. Evelyn Theiss provides the reader with carefully researched history as well as photographs of one of Cleveland’s deco treasures, not normally open to the public. Commentary by Paul Westlake, Westlake Reed Leskosky, and Dr Richard Distad provide insight about the structure, its renovation by current owner Charles Bolton as well as anecdotes about Blossom Family use.

September 21 & 22, 2012

Leading authority on Art Deco Metalwork to Speak on Edgar Brandt and Rose Iron Works.

Joan Kahr, art historian and leading authority on Edgar Brandt, will be the featured speaker of a Cleveland weekend seminar on Art Deco metalwork, September 21 and 22. The theme of the Friday/Saturday seminar, organized by the 20^th Century Society USA, is “Art Deco Metalwork: Edgar Brandt and Rose Iron Works.”

Kahr, Brandt’s biographer and also authority on Paul Fehér, Rose Iron Works’ designer during the early 1930’s, will present a slide lecture Friday evening at the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Saturday, participants will tour private and public installations of Fehér / Rose Iron Works’ metalwork in the Greater Cleveland area, ending with a tour of the company showrooms, archives and forge shop. If you wish to participate, please contact Michael Beyer at 20thcs@gmail.com

Kahr, a graduate of Adelphi University, received her Master of Arts in European decorative arts from the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum/Parsons School of Design. She has lectured on French ironwork at the Bard Graduate Center, the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and the University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband live on Long Island, NY.

Michael Beyer, president of the 20^th Century Society USA and a prominent member of the World Congress on Art Deco, was raised in Parma and is a specialist in family medicine with the Adena Health System in Washington Court House, OH.

July 26, 2012

St James Church Reopens!! ….. Rose Chandeliers will be enjoyed once again.

We are delighted to join the immense group celebrating the reopening of St James Church. The Cleveland icon was locked in 2010 as part of a diocese wide downsizing by Bishop Richard Lennon … and saved by extensive efforts by the community resulting in a Vatican reversal of the decision.

Martin Rose and Rose Iron Works craftsmen created the numerous chandeliers and ancillary light fixtures throughout the sanctuary during the early 1930’s.

You can read more here:

http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2012/07/overflow_crowd_fills_st_james.html

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-St-James-Friends-of-St-James/145262211341

July 17, 2012

A Moment in History Came Alive at Rose Iron Works … with more to come!

Ann DeBolt, granddaughter of Steve Papp — a key Rose blacksmith during the 1920’s — visited from her home in Texas, her first return trip to Cleveland in over 40 years.

DeBolt brought a photo of her Grandfather stationed at his anvil, a vignette we were able to re-create with Ann standing exactly where Papp had once worked.

Among the items she brought along to share was a letter to her grandfather from the pastor of the Church of the Covenant (Cleveland) inviting him to attend the 1931 dedication service of the then remodeled chapel for which RIW had just completed significant work.

Coincidentally, exciting developments are taking place at the church!!!

We are currently producing new organ loft railings, designed by architect James Watson, which will be installed later this year in the recently refurbished sanctuary. History repeats!

Reverend Campbell, James Watson , Rod Keen (chair Building and Grounds), Paul Williams (president of the Society) and many others have literally performed miracles reworking the woodwork, floors and lighting. This effort has been widely recognized as evidenced by winning the national AIA restoration award as well as regional award along with Webber Murphy and Fox architects.

Bob Halper, Halper Lighting Solutions is currently designing a fascinating mechanism for nighttime illumination of the rose window thanks to funding from University Hospitals.

Our entire community will delight in listening to the new organ which will be installed this fall.

May 2012

Meet our new Greeter!!

Per the classic “when a door closes, a window opens” … we are convinced that Kirby was sent to us by Roxie. He was recently found in Philadelphia …. lost, tattered and in want of a loving home … and has now joined both Bob’s family and our staff as Greeter. Furry friends are an important part of our studio culture, to many of our visitors as well.

April 5, 2012

We’ve Lost a Dear Friend

Our entire staff as well as hundreds of visitors have fallen in love with Roxie.

Rox was our “greeter” … always happy to make new acquaintances or to welcome friends.

She brought loving warmth to us each and every day.

At 14, both old age and cancer took their toll … she died “while at work” on April 5, 2012.

We cherish her memory …. and will forever miss her.

March 26, 2012

Original Rose Iron Works Drury Railing (section) on display at Case Western Reserve’s Kelvin Smith Library.

In celebration of their acquisition of the Cleveland Playhouse Archives.

March 22-25, 2012

We displayed at:

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST HOME DESIGN SHOW

Pier 94 55th Street at Twelfth Ave

New York, New York

http://www.archdigesthomeshow.com/

February 28, 2012

In Memoriam

It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of Melvin Rose on Feb 28, 2012

Rose Iron Works’ Melvin Rose dies at 92

January 18, 2012

Cleveland INTOWN Club Tour

November 18, 2011 – November 19, 2011

Friday 4:30pm – 9:00pm & Saturday 11:00am – 5:00pm

See us at the MOCA Fall 2011 Artscape for pre holiday shopping!

http://www.mocacleveland.org/current_events.php?event_id=323

November 17, 2011

Thursday 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Rose Iron Works Holiday Boutique

A delightful video of Melvin Rose speaking about his career is posted to Cleveland Arts Prize web site.

Clips also show RIW Smith Jim Tyson forging various items.

http://clevelandartsprize.org/awardees/Melvin_Rose.html#video

September, 2011

Ingenuity Festival

Chair & Tell Sponsored by HGR Industrial Surplus

A whimsical chair created by Stephen Yusko, Rose Iron Works artist-in-residence, was displayed at the 2011 Ingenuity Fest.

The chairs may be viewed at the RTA Station, Tower City, Cleveland until December 1

July 29-30, 2011

Concours d’Elegance of America

Bob and Barbara Rose, along with Stephen Yusko, attended and exhibited at the Concours d’Elegance of America in Plymouth, MI on July 29-30. Collectors and enthusiasts from the USA and abroad gathered to buy, sell and show some of the finest vintage automobiles in existence today.

Featured in our display, part of the Concours d’Elegance of America’s Invitational Automotive Art Exhibition, were several Art Deco pieces, presented as a unique complement to the classic theme of this exciting weekend. Compliments flowed freely as discriminating attendees drew comparisons between the design and craftsmanship of our work and that of the Rolls-Royce, Duesenberg, Stutz and Mercedes vehicles of the same period.