03 Mar original drawings and ironwork from cyril colnik, the “tiffany of wrought iron masters.”

original 1922 signed graphite on paper sketch of an ornamental wrought iron staircase newel post recently acquired by the bld. 51 archive and museum in spring of 2026.

cyril colnik was a renowned metalsmith from austria, often referred to as “the tiffany of wrought iron.” he moved to the united states to participate in the 1893 world’s columbian exposition in chicago, where he earned a gold medal for his entry.

colnik settled in milwaukee, wisconsin, opening a workshop there in 1894. a pacifist by nature, he closed his business instead of producing armaments during world war i. he spent the rest of his career in milwaukee, retiring in 1955 and passing away in 1958.

born in 1871 in the austrian village of trieben, styria, colnik was the son of dominick and anna rudmilla colnik. his father was a veterinarian, politician, and economist, and the family owned a large estate where cyril developed an early interest in the property’s smithy.

during the 1880s, colnik apprenticed as a mechanical assistant, studied ironwork in vienna, then moved to graz to train under franz roth. after completing his apprenticeship, he continued his studies in france and other european countries before settling in munich, germany. in munich, he trained at reinhold kirsch’s workshop and graduated from the munich industrial art school. recognized as an exceptional student, kirsch sent colnik to america as part of the german ironworking team at the chicago world’s columbian exposition.

at age 22, colnik arrived in chicago in 1893, working on the hands of a donated clock for display at the fair. he also submitted a grille depicting vulcan, the god of fire, considered a masterpiece by alan strekow. he received a gold medal for this work and additional recognition for an escutcheon. due to the economic depression following the exposition, known as the panic of 1893, colnik never received a physical copy of his medal.

brewer frederick pabst showcased a beer garden at the exposition, and is believed to have persuaded colnik to move to southeastern wisconsin. colnik created various metal pieces for pabst, including an elaborate wrought-iron and antler chandelier that ended up in milwaukee’s “von trier” tavern. by 1894–1905, colnik had established his own shop and gained a reputation for outstanding ironwork, serving wealthy clients in the region. concerned about being asked to manufacture armaments for world war i, colnik closed his workshop.

during the great depression in the 1930s, colnik worked for the works progress administration (wpa), creating gates for wisconsin memorial park and other public works. in 1938, he became the first non-architect admitted to the wisconsin chapter of the american institute of architects.

he was commissioned by john ringling to produce ironwork for the john and mable ringling museum of art. colnik retired in 1955 at age 84. today, his sketches and photographs are displayed at the villa terrace decorative arts museum in milwaukee. in 2008, he received the wisconsin visual art lifetime achievement award.

in 1905, colnik married marie charolette (née merz), daughter of a milwaukee shoemaker. on 24 may 1905, colnik became a naturalized u.s. citizen. their daughter gretchen was born in 1906. colnik died on 25 october 1958 in milwaukee, wisconsin, survived by his daughter.