Friedrich Bramsteidl, known as Fritz, was born in Austria in 1961 into a family with a seven-generation tradition in the art of blacksmithing. From a young age, he trained alongside his father and other master blacksmiths, absorbing the craft in the very forge where his grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather had once worked. “I was born in a forge,” he says. “My father was my main teacher, and when he passed away—while I was living in Galicia—I realized this craft is his legacy. I’ve been working as a blacksmith for over 31 years. It’s my life.”

Seeking new professional opportunities, Fritz moved to Spain, spending some time in Andalusia before settling in Galicia, a region that reminded him of his homeland. In 2001, he established his first forge workshop in Bande (Ourense), where he also began offering courses in traditional blacksmithing.

In 2006, he was offered the opportunity to take charge of an 18th-century forge, part of the ethnographic complex of the Mazo de Mazonovo in Santa Eulalia de Oscos (Asturias). He accepted with enthusiasm. Between 2007 and 2008, he participated in courses to recover traditional forging techniques with regional masters and, in 2013, took a course in ergonomic forging led by Israeli master Uri Hofi in Barcelona.

For 18 years, Fritz was at the helm of this historic forge, one of the few traditional forges still active in Spain. With great dedication, he managed to restore and operate the forge’s original hydraulic hammer, incorporating it as a core element of his workshop and training space. He also mentors young apprentices and provides demonstrations to visiting audiences, helping to preserve and share this ancestral craft.

Since 2014, Friedrich and his team have completed numerous blacksmithing and restoration projects in heritage buildings throughout Asturias, including:

• The entrance gate to the Mazo de Mazonovo

• Participation in the repair of the Mazo de Os Teixois, Taramundi (2007)

• Direction of hydraulic installations (hammer and bellows) in the reconstruction of the Ferrería de Santa Eufemia, Villanueva de Oscos (2011)

• Repair of the Mazo de Besullo, Cangas del Narcea (2016)

• Restoration of hardware (hinges and latches) and balustrades at the Palacio de Santa Cruz, Castropol

• Fabrication of ironwork and balustrades at the Palacio de Trenor, Figueras, and Torres de Donlebún, Barres

His work encompasses a wide variety of traditional blacksmithing techniques, including the making of hinges, bolts, latches, doorknockers, and locks, as well as the reconstruction of stair railings and custom wrought iron grilles. He also designs and builds his own models of chairs and lamps, combining function, craftsmanship, and artistic expression.

Friedrich Bramsteidl is not only a master of his craft, but also a guardian of a cultural heritage that he keeps alive through hands-on teaching, meticulous restoration, and creative innovation.