History

Artistic Metal Works is a family run business that was founded by Tony Minervini, an Italian Immigrant in 1975. It is now run by two of his five children Domenick and Julius. Tony was trained as a blacksmith in Molfetta, Italy and is self taught in many other areas of art and metal working as well as having a natural gift. He passed on this unique combination of art and craft to his children through many years of hands on, old fashioned, hard work.

Before coming to America in 1958, Tony went to Venezuela, where he worked, doing various types of metal work and pattern making in clay and plaster. When Tony came to New Jersey he worked for a company that did a lot of church work such as tabernacles, Baptismal fonts, stations of the cross, candlestick holders, processional crosses, or anything he was asked to make. And although he has never had any training in it, Tony is also a master of repousse. As it was stated in one newspaper article, “non c’e ferro o bronzo che non gli ubbidisca”, which means there is no steel or bronze that does not obey him.

In 1967 Tony went off to work for himself and in 1975 he started Artistic Metal Works. He has done a countless amount of work for churches, universities, architects, designers, businesses, and individuals. His work can be found all around the tri-state area and his church work has been shipped all around the country. One of his greatest pieces is an eight foot tall copper statue of the Madonna, which was handmade in repousse and sits above Our Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Since the early 1990’s and presently Tony’s sons Domenick and Julius continue to run Artistic Metal Works and provide quality metal products to any and all clients or institutions who need them. We have fabricated and installed work from Massachusetts to Florida and have shipped work to California, St Thomas, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Italy to name a few. Some of our past and present clients and jobs include: Equinox Fitness Clubs, Nubest Salon and Spa, Vamp Beauty Salon, Quick International, Gucci, Variazioni, Charivari, Artistic Tile; Mangia, Houston’s, and Merchants restaurants, The Empire State Building, The Plaza Hotel, The Sherry Netherlands Hotel, The Jersey City Hyatt, The Grand Cascades Lodge, The Suffern Library, Jersey City State College, Columbia University, St. John’s University, Pace University, The Crocker Mansion, The Cathedral of St John the Divine, The Archdiocese of Newark, St Patrick’s Cathedral and the altar structure for Pope John Paul II’s Giants Stadium masses. Some clients in the entertainment industry are: Queen Latifa, Tommy Mottola, Mariah Carey, George Benson, Naughty by Nature, and Ricardo Muti.