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Chased products made of copper have been popular among the people living in Uzbekistan at various periods of its long history. They were often used in practical life as dishes, kettles, plates and cups and appreciated for their beauty. Chased-copper dishes or vessels are often displayed on the shelves of open built-in cupboards as part of a living room in a traditional Uzbek house.
Chased and Painted Plate
| The local style of metal processing (chasing) has emerged into existence over centuries, both in terms of the shape of the products, as well as the techniques and methods for their production. Uzbek artisans are using different methods for engraving ornamentation on metal. A deeper engraving is called kandakori, a shallow one is known as chizma. Also, Uzbek artisans apply notch chasing called shabaka.
Green Color Painted Chased Plate
| Most famed in the country are Bukhara and Khiva metal chasers whose works are valued for the chic and plasticity of the forms, simple and exquisite ornaments, and depth of the lines.
Knives with chased blade
| The ancient tradition of metal chasing in Samarkand quite resembled that of the designs in the Bukhara region. Chased-copper ware from Shakhrisabz and Karshi used to be more complex: the local craftsmen used colored tint for the background and they applied laid-on punched details, stained class and turquoise inserts.
Various chased copper dishware
| The copper dishware that is made in the Ferghana Valley, and particularly in Kokand, are different in shape and usually are known as being less deeply though clearly chased. In addition, among them floristic ornaments are predominant. Ferghana artisans were the first to use architectural landmarks in their ornaments.
A richly decorated dish
| In old times, the works of Tashkent chasers were not seen as having an artistic value. Big pieces for keeping water and food were common, and usually they were decorated in simple vegetal designs and shallow chasing.
Tea Tray
| In the early 20th century, art schools were established based on ancient traditions, with students taught in chasing/ornamenting metal objects. Young artisans were more prone to new methods and ornamentation techniques. In Samarkand and Tashkent, traditional chasing techniques are only preserved in workshops where the most valuable pieces of art are kept, and even there the craftsmen use both old and new methods altogether.
Plates with various designs
| The oldest chasers using and preserving traditional methods inside their families are: L. Fazilov from Bukhara, B. Yakubov and M. Atajanov from Khiva, and followers of S. Khamidov, who died in 1973.
Architectural ornaments
| The new-era dominance of factory-made dishware, which took the place of chased-copper utensils, has changed this art dramatically. Copper-chasing is losing its practical value as its artistic value has even been growing over time. This seems to be quite natural as the art of chasing copper is the heritage of the past that should not be lost. This heritage is kept alive through making souvenirs and decorations of homes and public buildings interiors.
Tea pots made of copper
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Another tea pot
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A tea pot
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An Uzbek Doll and Tea Pot
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