Artist Spotlight: Ben Caldwell
/"I want to make serving pieces that are strong, timeless, one of a kind, and beautiful.” ~Ben Caldwell, Metalsmith
I am an artist, specializing in the creation of functional and timeless metalwork. All of my work is custom hammered, raised and chased by hand, resulting in quality, one-of-a-kind creations that will far outlast their creator. I like to think of my metalwork as the marriage of beauty and functionality, something you just don’t see much of these days.
Featured
Making the case for a single crouton. We always had our salad course after the meal and it’s funny how strange that tradition seems to some people. The most interesting and often overlooked salad tradition was the single crouton. Every salad my grandmother made had it. She took a piece of stale bread(very lightly toasted if you don’t have stale bread), rubbed it on both sides with a clove of garlic added it to the undressed salad. The course surface of the bread picked up just enough garlic. When we were ready for the salad course(with a good selection of cheeses) she’d dress the salad with salt, pepper, oil and vinegar. A small simple addition, but you would be surprised by the difference it makes.
Each Ginkgo salad set by artist Ben Caldwell is hand crafted and unique. Note the detailed hammer work on each Ginkgo leaf and the delicate venation of leaves or loops in the vine handle.
You probably haven’t considered a “salad tradition” but when you eventually come around to the idea this hand hammered Ginkgo salad set will be worthy of the effort.
Each piece is 11 inches long and 4 inches at it's widest point.
Materials: Handworked copper with brass rivets
Design: Ben Caldwell
Source: Nashville, TN