These intricate, custom railings that lead to a spacious wine cellar in a private residence were designed and created by metal artist and blacksmith Scott Lankton. Each hand-chiseled leaf and textured vine in this complex design is unique, as it would be in nature. The grapes were made individually, then painstakingly joined one by one to form each cluster. Built on-site, the railings appear to have grown up in the space. After completing the installation, Lankton applied a clear acrylic finish to the metal to preserve its warm natural patina, the result of the extensive hot-working and wire-brushing of each piece. Lankton also crafted grapevine and leaf chandeliers and room dividers, mica wall sconces, door hardware, and other forged metalwork pieces for the wine cellar. The concept, creation, and installation of the railings and other pieces took Lankton and two apprentices approximately six months to complete.
In 1985, Lankton received his diploma from the International Teaching Center for Metal Design in Aachen, Germany, after serving an apprenticeship under master Manfred Bredohl. Also trained as a jeweler, Lankton has been making “jewelry for buildings” since 1979 from his studio in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Interior design Rohn Goldman, Rohn M. Goldman Design, Huntington Woods, Mich.
Architect Bob Bryce, Bryce McCalpin Palazzola Architects & Associates, West Bloomfield, Mich.
Railing photographs courtesy of Scott Lankton
Scott Lankton photograph courtesy of bradziegler.com
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