Artist Spotlight: Ben Caldwell

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"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.

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Copper Ginkgo Salad Set by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ginkgo Salad Set by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
325.00

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

Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Lasagna Server by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Lasagna Server by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
299.00

This unique silver lasagna server was created by hand in Nashville, TN.   It is a contemporary piece and at the same time, an artifact of true American craftsmanship.  Copper is hand hammered, worked, and riveted into the flowing organic design.  Then the piece is quadruple silver plated.

 What is quadruple plate silver?  It literally means that four times the amount of pure silver is used compared to a standard silver plate.  It is a process that dates back to the later 19th century and was reserved for the highest quality pieces.  Using four times the amount of silver is intrinsically more expensive but it also means that it is more durable. 

The most important fact is that these pieces, however beautiful, these pieces were always intended to be used.

15 inches long.

Material:  Quadruple plate silver over handworked copper

Design:  Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Pasta Server by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Pasta Server by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
325.00

Each angle, curve, and facet of this fern leaf pasta server was created by hand in Nashville, TN.   It is a contemporary piece and at the same time, an artifact of true American craftsmanship.  Copper is hand hammered, worked, and riveted into the flowing organic design.  Then the piece is quadruple silver plated.

 What is quadruple plate silver?  It literally means that four times the amount of pure silver is used compared to a standard silver plate.  It is a process that dates back to the later 19th century and was reserved for the highest quality pieces.  Using four times the amount of silver is intrinsically more expensive but it also means that it is more durable. 

The most important fact is that these pieces, however beautiful, these pieces were always intended to be used.

Created by artist Ben Caldwell, a classically trained painter and sculptor, with Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tufts University who trained at The Studio School of New York, Harvard University and The Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  His one-of-a-kind creations are functional, beautiful and timeless.

Material:  Quadruple plate silver over handworked copper

Design:  Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Serving Fork by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Serving Fork by Ben Caldwell
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
239.00

Silver serving fork created by hand in Nashville, TN.   It is a contemporary piece and at the same time, an artifact of true American craftsmanship.  Copper is hand hammered, worked, and riveted into the flowing organic design.  Then the piece is quadruple silver plated.

 What is quadruple plate silver?  It literally means that four times the amount of pure silver is used compared to a standard silver plate.  It is a process that dates back to the later 19th century and was reserved for the highest quality pieces.  Using four times the amount of silver is intrinsically more expensive but it also means that it is more durable. 

The most important fact is that these pieces, however beautiful, these pieces were always intended to be used.

15 inches long.

Material:  Quadruple plate silver over handworked copper

Design:  Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Silver Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Serving Spoon by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Serving Spoon by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
225.00

The Copper serving spoon by artist Ben Caldwell is hand crafted and unique.  Note the detailed hammer work  and the different facets from each hammer strike.  The loops in the vine handle provide a perfect fulcrum for a thumb or forefinger.

14.25 inches long.  3 inches wide.

Materials:  Handworked copper with brass rivets

Design: Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ice Scoop by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ice Scoop by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
250.00

If you like the look of copper, especially hammered copper it’s best to start with the work of Ben Caldwell. 

A classically trained painter and sculptor, with Bachelor of Fine Arts from Tufts University who trained at The Studio School of New York, Harvard University and The Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  His one-of-a-kind creations are functional, beautiful and timeless.

The first thing to look for is the hammered pattern or really the lack thereof.  Each facet, each angle that captures the light is a single hit of the hammer. It is perfectly placed to shape the metal but follows no discernible pattern like you would see from a machine.

Second you’ll notice the organic form that sprouts into the delicate venation of leaves or loops in the vine handle to provide that perfect fulcrum for a thumb or forefinger. 

Third is what you can’t see in an image.  The copper is work hardened by all of those hits of the hammer.  It provides strength in what looks like a delicate handle.  Heavier than you might expect but intuitively feels like the correct weight in your hand.

Start your collection with an authentic original by a master craftsman.

Materials:  Handworked copper with brass rivets

Design: Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Berry Spoon by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Berry Spoon by Ben Caldwell
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
180.00

The Copper berry spoon by artist Ben Caldwell is hand crafted and unique.  Note the detailed hammer work  and the different facets from each hammer strike.  The loops in the vine handle provide a perfect fulcrum for a thumb or forefinger.

13inches long.  3 inches wide.

Materials:  Handworked copper with brass rivets

Design: Ben Caldwell

Source: Nashville, TN

Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment
Copper Ben Caldwell Gene Reese Comment