• Multigenerational Tradition

    Multigenerational Tradition

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Silesia is one of the oldest centers of cultural and economic Polish. In this respect, blacksmithing has a rich, centuries-old, documented archaeologically tradition.

At the turn of the eleventh century, were produced everyday's use tools, such as knives, axes, sickles, hatchets, arrowheads and spears, various kinds of keys, locks, fittings and padlocks. All of these products were produced in the medieval forge. Even mint and coins emitting could not exist without the help of a blacksmith. The contemporary metallurgy was one of the most important sectors of the economy.

In early medieval, blacksmith was forced to prepare material on their own. Irregular metal body was obtained from the primitive process of melting, then subjected to tedious treatment blacksmith to obtain the raw material production. The first thing to do was hammer knocking glowing red-iron on the anvil, giving the iron required form. This stage production did not change even during the peak of the development of craft.

In the middle of the thirteenth century begins a new phase of economic progress. The acceleration of the process of division of labor and specialization in production and trade is converted into an independent area of economic life.

The number of forges producing not only basic material, but ready-made tools was increasing. Distinguish between various specializations such as manufacturing metal metalwork, although this is not confirmed in written sources

Even the scant archaeological relics found, inter alia, Wroclaw and Opole, such as keys, padlocks and iron fittings evidence of technological progress in metallurgy. Technique of locksmith commonly uses copper as the material used to solder and combining of iron. Visible is also the ability of riveting using appropriate cold-nails hammered in the previously prepared holes.

Birth guild system became an important factor in the development of production. The first mention of the existence of Silesia organized crafts metallurgical come from 1,369 years . Then it was published in Swidnica oldest , now known document concerning the rights and obligations of locksmiths and cutlers . In 1403 in Wroclaw worked 28 blacksmiths and 56 locksmiths of a total of 206 metalworkers . At the same time, in the Czech capital , Prague, worked twice as less, only 108 metalheads . It should be remembered that at that time Silesia belonged to the monarchy of Luxembourgers. In addition to Wroclaw major center blacksmithing was Swidnica . The development of Silesian towns and the development of private buildings caused an increase in demand for metal products, which resulted in a flourishing the metallurgical Silesia in the fifteenth century.

Not without significance was further specialization of crafts contributing to the increase in production. A new form of raw material - sheet and rod angular were beside still manufactured ingot .