Cast Iron Metalworks in European Urban Furniture Dating Back to the 19th and the Early 20th Centuries

Abstract. The term “street furniture” includes numerous elements (e.g. street lamps, benches, fountains, gazebos) easing city life, complementing architecture and contributing to decorate urban areas. Despite the massive presence of street furniture in the urban environment, the knowledge about its evolution through the centuries is frequently ignored or neglected. This study analyses the main metallurgical features of twenty cast iron metalworks dating back to the 19th and early 20th centuries manufactured in cast iron foundries mainly located in Italy, France and England. The experimental activity was carried out in collaboration with “Fondazione Neri – Museo Italiano della Ghisa” (Longiano, FC, Italy). The microstructure was determined by means of optical microscopy (OM), whereas the semi-quantitative chemical composition was evaluated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The experimental results highlight the lack of a shared metallurgical culture in steel industry over the last one hundred and fifty years, since non-uniform microstructural features were observed among the specimens produced in that period in the geographical areas under study.