The Hungarian Jeweler
3AO "Mstersky Goldsmith" is one of the largest enterprises of folk art crafts in Russia with the richest traditions of artistic metalworking, the roots of which lie in the cultural strata that came to Russia with the adoption of Christianity — the magnificent culture of temple art and icon painting.
The history of the Hungarian jewelers is connected with the ancient icon-painting craft. Already in the 17th and 18th centuries, skilled coin minters for icons worked in Mster.
For centuries, the craft of the Vladimir-Suzdal land was formed by the efforts of single artisans, who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries united into small artels and not only laid out the production facilities of the future enterprise, but also largely determined its artistic orientation.
Single artisanal workshops and small rice-stamping workshops did not escape this, and already in 1908, a copper rolling mill began operating in the village, which was called the "Industrial Institution for copper foil production" where about 30 people worked.
At the end of 1917, the factory passed under the jurisdiction of the Gubernatorial State Farm and became a state-owned enterprise, mainly engaged in the production of household items. The company was called Metallostamp artel for rolling red and green copper.
In 1932, the artel was named after V.M. Molotov, and in the same year the artel switched to the production of tableware: cup holders, tea spoons, coffee spoons, powder boxes, and more.
In 1937, the artel began to produce filigree and non-ferrous metal products. After the Great Patriotic War, the artel switched to the production of haberdashery and jewelry, the production of filigree products was restored, the craftsmen were engaged in the restoration of antique silverware, which had a great impact on improving artistic skills.
In the following years, the filigree production of products was developed. The delicate and applied filigree is enriched with soldered relief stamps, gradually the filigree becomes thinner, looser, this gives the products openwork, elegance, and grace.
Currently, 3AO "Msterskiy Goldsmith" is a modern enterprise where the skills of talented artists and master jewelers combined with the use of modern equipment and technologies are embodied in products widely known in Russia and abroad.
The company's craftsmen are proficient in jewelry making techniques and contribute to the development of traditional art and folk crafts. In the manufacture of products, manual creative labor is widely used, methods of creative variation of the author's production of products, which ensures their high artistic level. In recent years, the production of high-quality tableware and silverware has been emphasized, the range of which has been expanded and updated by 80%.
Striving to meet the needs of customers unconditionally, the company's team is working tirelessly to create conditions for the rapid development of production, the introduction of new and improvement of traditional jewelry technologies.
The company's products have always been distinguished by their high artistic level and quality of execution. Decorated with hand-engraved, filigree, hot enamel, grain in combination with decorative gilding and mirror polishing, the products, along with their artistic value, are widely used in everyday life. The beneficial effect of silver on the human body creates an additional attractiveness for tableware products. Filigree, made to match the light, as well as gold and other backgrounds, is distinguished by its unique openwork. The architectonics of the forms are diverse. The company's products are in constant demand. The form of custom-made products based on sketches or customer requests is widespread.
Preserving the best traditions of the Hungarian jewelry art, artists and craftsmen create new unique works that can satisfy the needs of the most demanding buyer.
In accordance with Resolution No. 173 of the Head of the Administration of the Vladimir Region dated 30.03.2001, the production of Mstere jewelry is included in the list of traditional places of folk art crafts in the Vladimir region.
