Ulaanbaatar
The knife set with an unrepeatable design
Art & Culture
Sukhbaatar /MONTSAME/. One of the fascinating silverwork being kept at the Ethnography Museum of Sukhbaatar aimag is the knife set--a traditional accessory of Mongolian men with an unrepeatable design. The 12 zodiac animals are crafted with silver on one side of the sheath, and the Eight Auspicious Animals on the other side, with gold coating on top. Aside from large beads embedded around it, two dragons are also crafted with their mouths open on the top part of the sheath then coated with gold.
The work was selected as ‘the Work with Unrepeatable Design’ from the ‘Mongolian Craftsman-96’ exhibition that took place in 1996.
Sengedoo Jaakhanmaam, one of the famous Dariganga craftsmen, was distinctive from others for including beads, pearls, and nine precious stones in his crafts. Setting creative themes by using the 12 zodiac animals, the Four Powerful Animals, the Four Harmonious Animals, twin dragons and other various traditional patterns, he was skilled in creating intricate luxurious crafts. The knife set is a great example of his skilled craftsmanship.
Craftsman J.Sengedoo was born in Asgat soum of Sukhbaatar aimag in 1888. He began to create works as a craftsman from when he was 20 in 1908.
