The Kasli plant – elegance of iron lace

The Kasli plant – elegance of iron lace
First of all, the Kasli plant was founded by the Tula merchant Yakov Korobkov in 1747, near lake Kasli, the Urals. In the second quarter of the 19th century the plant began the new production. In particular, the plant owners opened a new paying business: pure charcoal iron, rich molding sands allowing to organize iron casting. First, the plant started putting out thin-walled pots, oriental cups, jugs, pans, and etc. And already in 1860 the Kasli plant received the Golden Award (The small golden medal of the Free Economical Society). Besides, in a year a Small Silver Medal of Saint Petersburg Textile exhibition. And a bit later – the honorable diplomas, silver and golden medals on the World Exhibitions in Paris (1867), Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876), Copenhagen (1888), Stockholm (1897) and again Paris (1900). In addition, 112 years ago at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900, wonderful handwork of cast iron, Kasli iron sculpture pavilion, by Kasli masters, created a sensation.

Delicate iron lace of the Kasli plant

Meanwhile, beginning from the 70s of the 19th century the Kasli plant introduced art iron casting, such as desktop sets and writing accessories, fireplace and oven accessories, garden furniture, tableware, and fences.

In fact, the art of iron figures making has made Kasli factory well known all over the world. Noteworthy, Kasli factory produced many of world wide known historical artistic sculptures and figures at Moscow and Saint Petersburg – and even iron made furniture at Winter palace.

In 1896, the All-Russian Exhibition in Nizhny Novgorod Kaslinskiy plant received the highest award – the right to put items on the stamp with the National Emblem of Russia – the two-headed eagle. However, this success was a prelude to a complete triumph in the 1900 World Art and Design Exhibition in Paris. Thus, Kaslinsky exposure, which presented the open cast iron pavilion received a gold medal.

Different masters worked at the Kasli plant at different times: N. Teplyakov, V.F. Torokin, D.I. Shirokov, K.D. Tarasov and others. Noteworthy is the role played by M.D. Kanaev and N.R. Bach: one founded an art school for workers in Kasli, the other continued classes at school and created a series of special casting models for the plant. Besides, the plant masters maintained contacts with the known Russian sculptors, such as: E. Lancere, A. Auber, and P. Clodt.