Weiner Mihályné szerk.: Az Iparművészeti Múzeum Évkönyvei 6. (Budapest, 1963)

HOPP FERENC MÚZEUM - MUSÉE FERENC HOPP - Ferenczy, László: Daghestan Bronze Cauldrons

LÁSZLÓ FERENCZY DAGHESTAN BRONZE CAULDRONS As it is known, in certain areas of Eurasia some forms of objects of ancient cultures have survived almost up to the present revealing their depandence on one or another ancient type. Owing to its geographical location and historical development, the Caucasian mountain region is such a characteristic territory, which preserves an unusual number of ancient traditions. In the last century „Sasanian" bronzes and various products of medieval pottery were in use in many villages of Daghestan. Around the turn of the century a great part of these objects was gathered into museums and private collections. The Daghestan cauldrons, manufactured in the area of the village of Kubachi'form one of these groups of objects used for centuries, and preserving their ancient form. Most of the old Daghestan cauldrons are found in the Hermitage at present. I. Orbeli was the first to deal with them in the Catalogue of the exhibition embracing the Sasanian works of art in the Hermitage.

1 In 1936 two casting-houses, manufacturing such cauldrons, were still active at Kubachi. Both were led by a master, who was assisted by the members of his family. They cast six cauldrons of different sizes and weights but identical in form. These cauldrons standing on three low supports, have the shape of a regular hemisphere ; brims are made at their edges and they have a hammered lid which was made-to-order by the coppersmith.

2 This type of cauldron, used mainly for cooking, has undergone a long development. Earlier cauldrons of different shape, which are now out of use, were cast. At Kubachi four sorts of cauldrons were manufactured. The first was the type usual in the East, having a round bottom and sides narrowing towards the top. Its ancient origin is proved, among others, by the fact that a miniature of such a cauldron has been found in a kourgan at Maikop. The second type of cauldron is hemispherical, having a vertical side. It has two protruding handles and it stands on three low supports cast together with the body. This type was the so called „Shirvan" cauldron. The two remaining types, becoming obsolete earlier, are characterized by a broad horizontal rim with parts protruding in cross-shape. One of these types is half-closed, and has the form of an irregular sphere with the top sliced off. Its details may be seen on a specimen of the last century which was bequeathed to the Ferenc Hopp Museum of Eastern Asiatic Art by József Fleissig (Fig. 1): the cauldron stands on three low supports of hexagonal