About Della Terra Studios

Della Terra Studios strives to be a "one stop shop" for all your architectural and fine art needs.  Our studio creates original functional and sculptural art to satisfy the most discerning collector and eclectic tastes.  We never use imported or mass-produced elements in our art work.

What sets us apart from our competition is our commitment to creating authentic ironwork and glass using both modern and traditional techniques. With our metal, every flower, vine, leaf, and finial is meticulously hand-crafted by fire and hammer. Our pieces are individually unique, hand crafted works of art. The difference is the attention to detail and pride we take in every piece we create. Our clients expect nothing less.

"Della Terra" translates as "of the Earth".   Since most of the materials we use have a symbiotic and spiritual relationship with the Earth, we felt the name complements what we do.  

Thank you for visiting our site and we hope you enjoy your stay!

Commissioning Work

Commissioning work usually starts with a phone interview. Here is when we discuss your project so we can get a good Idea of what you are looking for. It is very difficult to give an accurate quote at this stage. There are many variables that can effect cost so quotes are usually not given at this time.

Once we decide that this is a project we can move forward on, we will set up a meeting. We usually bring a few ironwork books for clients to look through so we can get an idea of what style of ironwork you like. We will take photos and measurements of where the work will be installed, and answer any other questions you might have.

After this meeting we will send you a quote in a few days. If we move forward from here, we will make some sketches of your project over the photos we took.

We require a 50% deposit to move forward from this point with the balance being paid when the work is complete. If you would like to keep the sketches we made for you, we require a 10% deposit of the entire quote. This deposit is applied to the quote if the project is commissioned.

We get asked why we require a deposit for drawings. The reason we require a deposit to keep our drawings is that they are time consuming. We believe you get what you pay for and someone will always do the work for less. If you decide to shop our drawings around and go with someone else, no hard feelings. We just want to be compensated for the time and effort in getting those drawings to you.

About the Artist, Matt Weber

As a young child, Matt’s favorite toys were hand tools.  On many warm summer days, you could find Matt in his back yard tearing down various odds and ends and re-assembling them into whatever his imagination would suggest.  Fueled by his curiosity and home schooled engineering from his Grandfather, Matt’s obsession with creating things with his hands has been the common denominator throughout his life.

It wasn ’t until Jr. High School when Matt took a welding class that the hook was set.  Metal.  This extremely hard property from the Earth can be worked like clay.  It can be fused, twisted, manipulated into just about any shape your heart desires.  The only ingredient is a little heat.

Jumping forward approximately fifteen years, having a good job that was paying for the tools Matt needed to make whatever his heart desired, his artistic nature flourished and commissions started to come in.  Creating hand forged functional art such as Chandeliers, early century light fixtures, and Gallery sculpture.  Matt spent this time learning all the skills he could.  He studied with Coppersmiths, Metal Casters, Jewelers, Bronze Workers, and Blacksmiths.  He also turned some of his attention to Glass and started studying glass skills such as Torchwork, Stained Glass, and Glass carvings.  Matt loved the way glass moved like metal when it was hot so much he set up a small area in his studio to work hot glass.  When the day was done, the pull to art was too great to continue working a full time job.  Despite the fear, unknown future income, and with the incredible support from his wife, Matt left his job and went full time with Della Terra Studios (DTS).

Creating functional art takes the mind of an engineer, and the heart and soul of an artist.  Matt attributes his shop skills and ability to engineer a project in his mind to his Grandfather.  “My Grandfather is the kind of guy that can disassemble anything and fix it.  He instilled in me two very important things over the years.   First, if you are going to do anything, do it right the first time or don’t do it at all.  And second, you are only as good as your tools.  Take care of them and they will take care of you."  Examples of this work ethic can be seen in every hand forged piece that Matt creates.

“We all learn from others” Matt reflects.  "Our God given talents may take us to different levels, but no one just makes this up on their own.  We are inspired by the world around us and the masterpieces that were created years ago.  My inspiration is fed in part by those that came before me. These were the tradesmen of their time that did not know they were artists.  Their work is stored in my mind and I call on it to help me carry on the tradition.  My tools are old and weathered.  While working in my studio my mind travels to the previous owners of these tools.  Who were they? What great pieces of art or trade goods did they create with these tools?  I like to think they were all like me. And wherever they are at now, they’re pleased to see their tools are still in use after all these years. 

I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.”

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