The people who practise ancient trades are a dying breed. In Austria The Schmidbergers are blacksmiths who produce made-to-order handmade harnesses, which take 120 hours of handiwork per piece and hardly differ from the 500-year-old originals. The brothers, who are the fifth generation of their family, carry on the tradition of the blacksmith trade.
A sign is pictured outside the workshop of blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger in Molln, Upper Austria June 12, 2012. Johann, 29, and Georg, 28, produce made-to-order handmade harnesses for the Vatican, which take 120 hours of handiwork per piece and hardly differs from the 500-year-old originals. The brothers carry on the tradition of the blacksmith trade in the fifth generation of their family. The sign reads, Old blacksmith's workshop. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
The workshop of blacksmith brothers Schmidberger in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger stand in front of their workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Georg Schmidberger work on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Georg Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Georg Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Schmidberger work on harnesses for the Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Schmidberger work on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Hammers are pictured at a workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger work on harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Moll. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
A part of a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard lies in a fireplace at a workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger work on harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Moll. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Johann Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on harness for Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on harness for Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger work on harnesses for Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Moll. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on harness for Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Johann Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Schmidberger works on harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith Johann Schmidberger works on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at his workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Blacksmith brothers Johann and Georg Schmidberger work on a harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard at their workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
Harness for Vatican Swiss Guard is pictured at workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
A finished harness for the Vatican Swiss Guard is pictured at a workshop in Molln. LISI NIESNER/REUTERS
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