Research in Giurgiu county within the "Roma(a)Nor Interferences" project resulted in the detection of numerous Roma communities. Among them, the few remaining craftsmen also make a living, one of them being the Roma blacksmith Vasile Constantin from Ogrezeni commune, Giurgiu county.
Costel Fierarul, as he is known locally, s-a născut în anul 1955, făcând parte dintr-o familie veche de fierari, bunicul său din partea tatălui fiind fierar în Țegheș, jud. Ilfov, iar cel din partea mamei, Ilie Mărgean, în Podișor, jud. județul Giurgiu.
He started working in the blacksmith's shop at the age of 6 as his father's apprentice; at that time, he broke the coals for the fire, "to make them smaller", which gave them greater efficiency. Since 1982, he has made his own blacksmith workshop placed in front of his house, inside the yard and in close proximity to the access gate.
Here, sometimes helped by his wife and granddaughter, he still works in iron: he makes horseshoes and horseshoes, works metal fences and gates, welds and forges various metal objects, according to the wishes of customers. With own tools - forge, anvil, electric drill, electric air blower (in the past, had cowhide sheets), vise, various hammers, cutting, bending, flattening, measuring, handling tools (pliers ) - he does all kinds of work, the most common being horseshoeing.
The workshop and forge of the craftsman Vasile Constantin from Ogrezeni
For the production of horseshoes, Constantin Vasile uses Ø16 ribbed concrete iron. Cut the material to 33-40 cm, it depends on the horse's hoof, it is put on fire, left for a while, then the material is removed, the wife hits with the big hammer (of 4 kg) and he with the small hammer, „trage șanț” then he "checks with the marker" (to know where the holes for the horses will be made), he makes "corners" to the horseshoes, after which he arranges the horseshoe "round" according to the horse's hoof; next is the removal of the old horseshoe, he cuts the hoof (surplus) with pliers, then cleans it with the help of a knife (a special one), puts the horseshoe on the hoof (fixes it) "so that it does not play", beats the horseshoes, "cuts and tightens" them, then puts "la boc", file with a rasp, then brush with burnt oil. Horseshoeing time (if the horseshoes are already made): 1h – 1h and 10 min.
Horseshoes made by the blacksmith - farrier Vasile Constantin
Currently, blacksmithing in Giurgiu county is in total decline. Few blacksmiths still practice this craft in rural areas, and horse shoeing is even rarer.
