7
In the 14-15th centuries, Tabriz grew into the leading hub of metal works. Grandeur
of the city featuring plethora of trades and crafts were reported by Venetian traveller
Marco Polo during his trip to Azerbaijan in the second half of the 13th century.
Artefacts manufactured in Tabriz during this period are nowadays cherished in a
number of world’s leading museums. E.g. an ornate bowl manufactured by Youssif bin
Ahmad Tabrizi in 1319 is exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London,
whereas the State Hermitage in St.Petersburg brags of a bronze cauldron of the same
period.
In the 16-17th centuries, places like Tabriz, Ardabil, Maragha, Nakchivan, Ganja,
Shamakhy and Baku grew into the major clusters of houseware production. This was
also the time when arms (daggers, swords, maces, shields, etc.) and chain armor pieces
(
hoods, chest armor, kneeguards, etc.) manufactured by the Azerbaijani artisans were
particularly popular abroad where they were in high demand. References to the arms
crafted in Shamakhy are far not infrequent in that-time Russian annals.
E.g. description of 8 hoods (bashlyk) manufactured by artisans from Shamakhy and
used by Boris Godunov, a Russian Throne contender, may be found in one of the
narratives. Such a high popularity of local coppersmiths was far not by chance as they
succeeded in introducing a number of cutting-edge novelties to conventional arms. In
the 15th century, broad straight swords were gradually replaced by curved
crescent-shaped sabres inlaid with gold, silver, ivory and gems. The same holds true
with adornments used for shields and chain armor.
In general, embellishments made of precious metals are divided into 4 groups
depending on the way they were used, i.e. adorments for neck, hand and wrist
jewelry, headware and attire decorations.
Coppersmith Art in Azerbaijan