Kubachi – Kubachi – the Village the Village

of of GoldsmithGoldsmith

ssMikhail Nokhov,Mikhail Nokhov,

Gymnasium # Gymnasium # 1,1,

KhasavyurtKhasavyurt

Kubachi is village Kubachi is village whose name is known whose name is known far beyond the borders far beyond the borders s of Dagestan. It is s of Dagestan. It is situated high in the situated high in the mountains. The mountains. The Darghins live there, Darghins live there, representatives of one representatives of one of indigenous of indigenous nationalities of nationalities of Dagestan. During the Dagestan. During the middle ages the middle ages the village was widely village was widely known in Dagestan known in Dagestan and abroad as an and abroad as an important important metalworking centre, metalworking centre, where coats-of-mail, where coats-of-mail, swords, daggers and swords, daggers and the like were the like were produced. produced.

The very name of The very name of the village Kubachi the village Kubachi – represent the – represent the Turkic from the Turkic from the Persian word Persian word “Zirihgheran” , “Zirihgheran” , which means which means “makers of “makers of weapons”. This land weapons”. This land was mentioned by was mentioned by some Arab and some Arab and Iranian historians Iranian historians and travelers as and travelers as early as the 9-th early as the 9-th and 10-th centuries. and 10-th centuries.

The fame of Kubachi The fame of Kubachi has been created by has been created by the skilful hands of the skilful hands of its residents, who are its residents, who are masters of the masters of the amazing secrets of amazing secrets of metal chasing. The metal chasing. The craftsmanship of the craftsmanship of the local goldsmiths has local goldsmiths has been passed from one been passed from one generation to generation to another. And that’s another. And that’s why any boy or girl, why any boy or girl, who hasn’t yet who hasn’t yet learned to read or learned to read or write, can handle, the write, can handle, the chisel and work chisel and work elementary designs elementary designs on a copper or brass on a copper or brass plate. plate.

Historians claim that Historians claim that Kubachi art developed in Kubachi art developed in the Bronze Age. Bracelets, the Bronze Age. Bracelets, rings, earrings, pins, and rings, earrings, pins, and buckles, made at different buckles, made at different times and bearing the times and bearing the Kubachi intricate chasing Kubachi intricate chasing can be found in many can be found in many museums all over the museums all over the world. world. In Kubachi they also carve In Kubachi they also carve wood and stone, engrave wood and stone, engrave copper, embroider with copper, embroider with silk and gold threads, and silk and gold threads, and weave intricate patterns weave intricate patterns and fabrics. But particular and fabrics. But particular fame was achieved by local fame was achieved by local arms-makers, which arms-makers, which ornamented their daggers, ornamented their daggers, swords and pistols in the swords and pistols in the 18-th and 19-th centuries. 18-th and 19-th centuries.

At the beginning of At the beginning of the 20-th century the 20-th century Kubachi craftsmen Kubachi craftsmen were engaged not only were engaged not only in artistic finishing of in artistic finishing of the weapons, but also the weapons, but also in the production of in the production of various adornments various adornments and silver objects. and silver objects. Some craftsmen made Some craftsmen made trips to various trips to various Russian towns, while Russian towns, while others moved abroad – others moved abroad – to Istanbul, Paris, to Istanbul, Paris, Berlin and even to Berlin and even to New York. The New York. The purpose of these trips purpose of these trips was to deal in was to deal in antiques and in some antiques and in some cases to work as cases to work as jewelers. jewelers.

The feeling of the The feeling of the inhabitants of Kubachi inhabitants of Kubachi for the real beauty of for the real beauty of patterns and ornament patterns and ornament in their works of art is in their works of art is reflected everywhere reflected everywhere in their surroundings. in their surroundings. Their homes are like Their homes are like miniature museum. In miniature museum. In their guestroom one their guestroom one can see carved stone can see carved stone mantelpieces, a great mantelpieces, a great number of copper number of copper cauldrons, trays and cauldrons, trays and dishes, sometimes dishes, sometimes ornamented with ornamented with amazingly intricate amazingly intricate patterns. On the walls patterns. On the walls hang china and hang china and faience plates. Various faience plates. Various utensils are set out utensils are set out carefully on the carefully on the shelves. shelves.

Today, in the centre of the Today, in the centre of the village there is a two-village there is a two-storied buildings, where storied buildings, where shapeless pieces of silver, shapeless pieces of silver, gold and cuprous-nickel gold and cuprous-nickel are transformed into are transformed into wonderful objects of art. wonderful objects of art. In the history of art In the history of art products, where dozens of products, where dozens of craftsmen are busy with craftsmen are busy with their creative work. They their creative work. They are mainly specializing in are mainly specializing in jewelry and the production jewelry and the production of various souvenirs. The of various souvenirs. The articles produced by then articles produced by then are distinguished by the are distinguished by the fine executions, most fine executions, most delicate engraving and a delicate engraving and a broad variety of vegetation broad variety of vegetation motifs. motifs.