The Meredith League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fine Craft
Gallery is proud to announce a new exhibit, Foundry Finds, A Quest for Iron Age Turquoise.
In this exhibit, Lucy Golden, an innovative and masterful jewelry artist, has created jewelry that
celebrates New Hampshire’s iron roots and the beauty in slag. This special event highlights the
crucial role the iron industry played in the economic and industrial development of the Granite
State and how its byproducts, once discarded, are now being re-imagined as stunning works of
wearable art through Lucy’s artistic vision.
Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, New Hampshire’s iron industry fueled everything from
railroads and tools to shipbuilding, farming equipment, and stove casting. Ironwork’s in towns
that helped establish a self-sustaining economy were Franconia, the largest and longest running
operation, Gilmanton Iron Works as second, Exeter, which was established early but didn’t last
long, and Tamworth. These hard-working companies made New Hampshire an early leader in
American industrialization.
In particular, Gilmanton Iron Works relied on bog iron ore that was brought up from Crystal
Lake from a depth of twenty feet at times. Hussey Manufacturing Company, a company that still
exists today but has since moved to Maine, heralded the development and production of plows
that were revolutionary for their time.
So, what is slag? Slag is a glass-like byproduct formed when impurities are separated from
molten iron during the smelting process. It is the non-metallic residue that floats on top of the
molten metal during smelting, protecting it from oxidation. Historically seen as waste, slag is
now gaining a new recognition for its unexpected beauty and historical significance. In Lucy’s
jewelry, it manifests as a beautiful turquoise stone.
From foundry to finery, Lucy Golden has creatively incorporated slag fragments into her
handcrafted jewelry, turning industrial waste into beautiful treasures. Stop by the Meredith Fine
Craft Gallery to see these unique pieces that honor the people who worked in the smelters by

keeping their legacy alive in a tangible and personal way. This exhibit will run from June 9th until
June 30th, 2025 .
For more information please call the Gallery at 603-279-7920 or visit our web site
Meredith.nhcrafts.org. The League of NH Craftsmen Gallery is located at 279 DW Hwy.
Meredith, NH.
The League of NH Craftsmen is a non-profit organization that encourages and promotes the
creation, use and preservation of fine contemporary and traditional hand craft. The League
represents the signature of excellence in fine craft, through the work of its juried members, and
its rigorous standards for self-expression, vision, and quality craftsmanship.