Zlatoust – Home of Agat

(Russian: Златоу́ст) is a city in Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Ay River (the Kama basin), 160 kilometers (99 mi) west of Chelyabinsk.

Zlatoust was founded in 1754 due to construction of the ironworks. In the early 19th century, Pavel Anosov made the first Russian bulat steel blades in the city. The town is also known for the first cannons made of Russian steel. In 1903, the tsarist authorities brutally suppressed a strike, organized by the workers of Zlatoust.

Metal and engraving

During the Soviet period, Zlatoust became an industrial city, which specialized in metallurgy, mechanical engineering, tool-making, food production, and other industries. Zlatoust is one of the centers of artistic engraving on metal in Russia. Traditionally, such engravings were done on weapons, such as knives and swords; however, during the Soviet period, the engraving was shifted onto decorative metal.

Sabers & swords

At the beginning of the 19th century, an arms factory was constructed there which began to produce sabers and swords. Famous artists Ivan Bushuyev and Ivan Boyarshinov left us unique patterns of cold-steel decorated with engravings. The flying winged horse was a favorite element of many of Bushuyev’s engravings, so he was given a nickname Ivan the Wingy (Ivanko Krylatko). Since then, a pegasus was an emblem of the town.

Text by: Wikipedia