About Lee

Lee began blacksmithing in 1973 at the age of 12, when he began his apprenticeship to Larry Mann. He has been a member of the Artist-Blacksmiths Association of North America since 1974. After a 2 year flirtation with higher education, Lee's journeyman years included stints with OK Barnes of Camden Maine, Chris Axelson of Carmel California, and Vaclav Jaros of Prague (then) Czechoslovakia. He returned home to Lexington, Va. to take over Woods Creek Forge from Larry Mann in1984. He has continued in the blacksmithing business to this day, forging sculpture, custom furniture, and architectural iron. He is perhaps best known in the blacksmithing community for his researches into ancient ironsmelting techniques.

In January 2009 Lee moved his forge to his home on the south slope of House Mountain, near Lexington , and renamed his business Germinal Ironworks.

For a full resume, click here