Master Shin

At a blacksmith shop in Anseong, South Korea — the oldest in the country, established in 1845 — Master Shin In-Young forges knives and garden tools the way they have always been made: by hand, over fire, with carbon steel reclaimed from railroad tracks. Master Shin began his apprenticeship at 13 and achieved mastery at 17 — a feat almost unheard of even today. In 2016, the South Korean government named him an Intangible Cultural Treasure. His tools are recognized instantly by the traditional X-banding on the wooden handle, a mark historically reserved for the finest quality blades. Each piece from Master Shin's Anvil is simultaneously a working tool and a durable work of art. MetropolitanDecor.com carries Master Shin's Anvil as an authorized retailer.