student asking question

What's the difference between "goldsmith" and "blacksmith"?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Great question. Both "blacksmiths" and "goldsmiths" are a type is a metalsmith. Which is a crafts person who makes useful items out of various types of metals. A "blacksmith" would be someone who creates this mostly from iron or steel, but sometimes from other metals, by forging the metal, using tools to hammer, bend, and cut it. Blacksmiths produce objects such as gates, grilles, railings, light fixtures, furniture, sculpture, tools, agricultural implements, decorative and religious items, cooking utensils, and weapons. They are named "blacksmiths" because they work with iron which is a "black metal". A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Nowadays they mainly specialize in jewellery-making but historically, goldsmiths also made silverware, platters, goblets, decorative and serviceable utensils, and ceremonial or religious items. Ex: I have to go to the blacksmith to get new horseshoes made. Ex: We went to a goldsmith to get my necklace custom made.

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