Technological and artistic development of metal marked a big progress in the development of human civilization. No wonder the historical era known - the era of copper, bronze, iron. However, the chronological and spatial distribution of these metals has been uneven, depending on environmental conditions and degree of development of nations.

In pre BC. E. spaces present Ukraine (steppe and forest-steppe) lived on the Scythian and Sarmatian tribes. In the artistic treatment of metal Scythian craftsmen achieved a great trick. Known original interpretation animalistychnoyi plastic materials (decorative plates, jewelry, navershya) - the so-called animal style. The classic example of this style is a gold disc that vividly depicts a deer, and beasts of prey, found in the Kul-Oba burial mound near Kerch (IV cent. To AD.)

Sarmatians to decorate weapons and household items made various ornaments of brass, bronze and iron, often resorting to encrustation colored polychrome glass and precious stones. Bracelets, earrings and pendants made of precious metals are enriched with inserts of a grenade, ruby.

Brilliant artistic value endowed with gold and silver products made in the Greek Black Sea colonies. This, above all, should include the world famous vase decorated with engraved scene scenarios, gold pectoral from the stone tomb near Nikopol, and so on. Thus, the metal pieces that come with the territory of modern Ukraine, made at the turn of ages, confirming the reduction of the backlog of Scythian, Sarmatian and other metaloobrobnykiv AeroSvit in technical and artistic means of expression compared with the master heirs ancient civilizations.

However, the difference in artistic metal levels have remained almost to the end and thousands can easily find compare decorative metal ancient Slavs with jewelry.

Art metaloobrobnytstvo reached a high development in times of Kievan Rus. By social status metaloobrobnyky Kievan Rus were professional urban artisans or princely people who lived at the court. Study jewelery require not only a lot of time to master, but also related equipment and materials. In the days when every piece of metal was in the account metaloobrobnyky and more jewelers, craft belonged to the elite.

Along with local artists working and foreigners.

Focusing on the unique metal products of the East, the ancient masters, along with techniques of assimilated forms, composition schemes and individual decor that is quite natural for the Middle Ages.

Wide bracelets made with silver plates engraved and chopping, they depict scenes of interesting magic - harpers, dance girl warrior, ornamental motifs.

XII unique pieces of art. a gilded silver cup (Chernigov), made dyfuvannyam, decorated with chasing, engraving and chopping. Its rich ornamentation includes medallions and domestic battle scenes, surrounded by floral patterns. A wicker octagonal star-filled figures of fantastic animals.

Old Masters used the technique of bronze casting in stone, clay forms or wax model. These methods of producing large objects (bells, lights-horosy, vessels, Aquarius), the smaller things (curly gilded mace), many fine products: coils, crosses, obrazky, Encolpyon, buttons, rings, etc.

Ukrainian Art metaloobrobnytstvo XIV-XV centuries. developed and enriched the tradition of ancient Rus. Worked blacksmiths, foundry, tinsmith, jewelers and others. But this period remained very little interest.

First let us recall the oldest monumental work lyvarstva - call 1341r. from Lviv ST. George. He has a simple unpretentious form. His somewhat elongate housing surrounds band graphic inscription - the only decoration, which at the same time shows: he made the call soon.

In the XV century. City departments have different metal crafts, apply new types of articles (guns, clocks, locks, etc..).

Depending on the typological groups distinguish between metal objects of mechanics, larkspur, and stremennykiv zamochnykiv. They often worked with blacksmiths, made parts of architectural hardware, forged trunks and so on.

In metaloobrobnytstvi XVII-XVIII centuries. came the spread of large-scale production of decorative and monumental works, often associated with architecture. This cast bells, jewelry, royal gates, okuttya thrones, robes and large icons setting Gospels foundry and forge-work bench.

Small and medium-sized metal objects, which often were real works of applied art, jewelers, goldsmiths produced, foundry, blacksmith, konvisary and others.

Most significant center of goldsmithing in XVI-XVII centuries. was Lions. L'goldsmiths made all possible valuables, ranging from cookware and ending with small ornaments. Among the nobles and wealthy burghers demanded enjoyed the so-called Lviv Pass. This wide leather belt, completely covered with silver or gilded rectangular albums simultaneously. At the fastener often podybuyemo figured scenes with mythological figures, images of knights and kings.

Folk art metal craftsmen, artisans are disparagingly called "the cobbler, worked in the most accessible areas: forging, blyaharstvi, fine casting and goldsmithing. Most of them remained farmers, is engaged in the craft free from the cultivation of the soil time.

Works of art of national blacksmith were numerous and mainly related equipment buildings (crosses, door brace, latch, handle, etc.) okuttya wagons, sleighs, chests and etc. Applied forging products: axes, scythes, sickles, sapy, horseshoes - mainly produced in the raw.

Okuttya trunk, however, was the "face" portionless youth. This okuttya little traditional design (nariznyky, mounting headquarters, curtains) and overhead decorative elements (spirals, flowers, birds).

During the existence of multifaceted art metal was significant evolution, underwent prosperity and decline. Fortunately, people still want to revive the tradition and create beautiful and useful things with metal.

Interest in art metal is weakened today when the industry mass produces various metal products. The best proof is the desire of people of different professions, not only to master the secrets of metal, but their hands to try to make one or another product.

Today, demand for cover art objects and increasing requirements for quality art products that adorn the life of people.

Applied art - a large area of art, which serves for the formation of artistic material environment created by man.

People goldsmithing pobutuvalo in the Dnipro region and Slobozhanshchyna, given the centuries-old tradition of wearing clothing in celebration of girls and women a large number of decorations - especially the crosses, necklaces, bracelets, earrings. Rural and urban people's Jewelers made its products with low samples precious metals and precious stones replaced by multi-colored lenses. They were well known Foundries in clay forms, imitation, simple patterns engraving, stamping, gilding, etc. amalgam.

The most common product was lost. Almost all men, women and children were, in particular, smooth union cross, decorated with engraving. Large cast of crosses performed with copper, white or silver alloy in form of a complex openwork plaiting, prykrashuvaly stems and engraving. Stamped crosses, often with a relief image of any saint, produced in Kiev.

Earrings are often made without pidkivok (earring) - oval extended before, which pryplavlyuvaly different outlet.

Fine Art Foundries brass in villages Gutsulschiny vyriznyalos unique finishing style, sources of which probably go back to pagan times. However, reliably dated things come only from the first quarter of the XIX century. Gutsulskie master casting, kuvannya_ in clay forms produced many unused items: guns, axes, boxes, etc..

Glory gutsulskom art metal brought both known and unknown artists, and even whole families, for example, Datchaky, Medvidchuk, Fedyuk.

Artistic forging in our time has become very common and has a great demand in comparison with the tree, due to longevity.