Metal working

Mongolian land is rich with oars of different metals, that is why the Mongols have processed metal from time immemorial and have mostly developed blacksmithing and jeweler’s art. Craftsmen who served rich and noble people or worked in monasteries created remarkable works of art. No less skilled things were created in poor yurts of nomads though. Creation and decoration of horse harnesses were of special importance. Travelers pointed to the contrast between the poverty of common nomads and the rich decoration of their horses, gowns, smoking pipes and snuff-boxes.

Craftsmen who worked with metal (darkhans) were divided into ordinary craftsmen and jewelers. They followed centuries-long traditions of various techniques: casting, engraving, and embossing, cutting, inlaying silver on iron, polishing, buffing and stamping. Casters made dishes, chess pieces, rings, bracelets, etc. from bronze, copper and silver. Stirrups, knifes, bracelets and different dishes were decorated with embossing. Patterns were usually engraved. Cups for koumiss, knife hafts were mounted with carved silver. Inlaid silver can rarely be found nowadays, but it used to decorate horse harness, belts, and brides’ head dresses. Mongolian craftsmen were so skillful in polishing and buffing metal objects that they made them “shine so that a man could see the reflection of his face in them”.

Craftsmen mostly used simple tools to work with metal: anvils, small and large hammers, scissors, pincers, grips, etc.

Waiting for byuer. Mongolia, Ulan-Bator. Mongols. A. Saifieva. 2006		Cup for sacrifice. Trans-Baikal. The Buryats. 19th century.		Ritual vessel. Trans-Baikal. The Buryats. 19th century.
Censer. Mongolia. The Mongols. 19th century.		Since the ancient times metall censers are made in Mongolia. Mongolia. The Mongols. Ivanov D., 2006.