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Wood burning or Pyrography is the oldest art form known to man and dates as far back as 10,000 years ago. Pyrography is from the Greek words Pyros that means fire, and graphs, which means writing. Prehistoric men used charred sticks to draw on the walls of their caves and this may have been man’s first artistic expression. Prior to the discovery of electricity which provides a continuous source of heat for today’s wood burning pens, artists in sixteenth century England would gather in taverns and place iron rods in the fireplace and when red hot they would use them to create art on the tavern walls. Having a number of them in the fire at once provided them with a constant supply of "hot irons" and it was from this experience that the phrase "having more than one iron in the fire" was born.
A little more history...
The process has been practiced by a number of cultures including the Egyptians and some African tribes since the dawn of recorded time. Pyrographer Robert Boyer hypothesises that the art form dates back to prehistory, when early humans created designs using the charred remains of their fires. It was known in China from the time of the Han dynasty, where it was known as "Fire Needle Embroidery". During the Victorian era, the invention of pyrography machines sparked a widespread interest in the craft, and it was at this time that the term "pyrography" was coined (previously the name "pokerwork" had been most widely used). In the late 19th century, a Melbourne architect by the name of Alfred Smart discovered that water-based paint could be applied hot to wood by pumping benzoline fumes through a heated hollow platinum pencil. This improved the pokerwork process by allowing the addition of tinting and shading that were previously impossible. In the early 20th century, the development of the electric pyrographic hot wire wood etching machine further automated the pokerwork process. Pyrography is a traditional folk art in many European countries, including Romania, Hungary, as well as countries such as Argentina in South America.
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For a more comprehensive historical discussion of wood burning or pyrography I would recommend reading The Amazing Art of Pyrography by Robert E. Boyer. The book starts out with his historical account and I found it informative and filled with fascinating facts like the prior reference to having more than one iron in the fire.
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