Collection: 6th Anniversary Gifts - Iron & Handcrafted Steel

Iron is the traditional material for the 6th wedding anniversary. The dishes in this collection are made from steel, which is roughly 98 percent iron with a small amount of carbon added for strength, so they carry the tradition honestly without pretending to be cast iron.

Every dish is cut from heavy gauge industrial steel, formed and hammered by hand, then darkened one piece at a time in our Lake Murray, South Carolina studio. The dark gunmetal finish is closer to blacksmith work than to anything polished, which suits the iron year.

Choose a round or square dish, plain or stamped with "I still do," or personalize one with your names, your date, or the Roman numeral for your year.

What is the traditional 6th anniversary gift?

Iron is the traditional material in the American list. Some older lists give candy or sugar for the sixth year, and the modern list gives wood. Iron is the one most gift guides use now.

These dishes are steel, not iron. Does that still work?

Steel is iron with a small amount of carbon added, usually around 98 percent iron by weight. It carries the same weight and the same dark worked finish, and it holds up better over time than raw iron would on a piece that sits out every day. We would rather tell you that plainly than let you find out after it arrives.

Will the dish rust?

Each dish is sealed with a protective wax coating, which slows things down considerably. But steel is steel: if it sits damp, it will spot. Keep it somewhere dry, wipe it with a soft cloth now and then, and it will hold its finish for years.

Can I put anything wet in it?

No. These are decorative keepsake dishes for rings, cufflinks, and small treasures. They are not intended for food, drink, or anything damp.