The FINANCIAL — If you think that swords have been left behind in centuries past, then you are mistaken. And if you decide to want to see a real, modern weapon made in keeping with all the traditions of ancient weapons, you definitely have to visit Tamaz Jalaghania.
Tamaz Jalahgania, the modern knight of swords, maintains the tradition of the making of different types of swords, guns, daggers and pistols. He is the only person in Georgia who knows the ancient techniques of making traditional Georgian weapons.
Entering his house, you get the feeling of being in a museum of old weapons, but no, all the weapons are his creation and waiting for buyers.
“A sword is the symbol of courage,” Jalaghania says. “Georgian men have always adored cold steel, from ancient times. I want this tradition to continue. I feel huge pride while working on swords or daggers. Every man who wears such a cold steel turns into a knight.”
Tamaz started making swords 30 years ago. At first he was a collector of weapons, but later the collector turned into a master.
“I’ve been in love with weapons since my childhood,” he recalls. “When I was a young boy I stole some money from my mother and bought cold steel. But as I had little money, I had to buy the cheapest ones, which usually broke quite quickly. So I repaired them myself and slowly mastered the craft.”
The main thing that distinguishes Jalaghania from other craftsmen of weapons is the tiniest ornaments made in gold or silver put into the iron or bone. If Tamaz is self-taught in terms of making weapons, he learned how to make these ornaments from famous Georgian craftsmen Otar Parulava and Guram Gabashvili. But later the master improved the methodology.
“He is the master of a unique craft. We try to support him as much as possible,” Nika Rurua, Minister of Culture and Monument Protection of Georgia, told The FINANCIAL. “He is the master of such a high level, that worldwide prominent jewellery companies including Cartier or Tiffany would hire him with great pleasure. His weapons are sold in Turkey, Central Asia, Israel etc. People even wanted Tamaz to move to Dagestan and work there, but he refused.”
“I keep a sword and dagger of his in my office. We often use them as official presents,” Rurua added.
Tamaz Jalaghania currently has three pupils, but in his career of being craftsman he has had 18. The master teaches without any fee. Sometimes he even helps his pupils financially. He wants this craft not to be lost so is trying to pass the knowledge on to the new generation. The craftsman worries though that none of his pupils have mastered the skill at a high enough level. Jalaghania will soon have 3 new pupils, from Dagestan, Chechnya and Ingushetia.
“Learning the craft needs a great deal of time, patience and will. I hope my pupils will become the best of masters. But it is difficult. One of them has been learning for 15 years but he isn’t even on an adequate level yet,” Jalaghania said.
Jalahgania has a small family: a wife and son. He wanted his son to learn the craft as well, but he isn’t interested in it.
“Of course it would be great if my son followed in my footsteps, but it depends on him. I am teaching the craft to my pupils and I consider them my children. And for me, what’s most important is for the knowledge of the intricacies of the craft not to be lost.”
Nana Imnadze, Tamaz’s wife, looks at his job sceptically as well. Nana complains that Tamaz only pays attention to his swords and not to his family. She is jealous of the weapons, he jokes.
“I would like to feel the support of my wife. Sometimes new ideas of weapons wake me up at night. I get up and draw pictures of the swords. It’s hard work. Sometimes I work on one sword for a whole year and think only about it. My wife can’t understand me,” he worries.
Making an average dagger takes two months and its price is 600-1,000 USD. But if the dagger is made with bone and gold, then its price can reach up to 3,000 USD. Guns and swords cost more. The highest price he has received for a sword was 6,000 USD. The master says that his weapons cost more, but clients can’t appreciate them properly and don’t want to pay much.
“Daggers are in the most demand as they are used with chokhas (the traditional Georgian costume for men),” Jalaghania said. “Apart from Georgians my main buyers are from Eastern countries. Some of them are re-sellers and I know that in Turkey my weapons are sold as antiques, as their price is then that much higher.”
The master will soon have a showroom in Old Tbilisi, near the sulphur bathes, and then everyone will have the opportunity to see his works which are the real pride of the Georgian nation.
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