Kasli Art Casting Plant

According to the chronicles, in 1560 the Stroganovs founded the first Pyskovsky monastery in the Urals, which housed the first plant that smelted iron ore. By the beginning of the reign of Peter 1 in tsarist Russia, there were already about 10 large ironworks. Each of them was charged with the duty of pouring guns, cores for the needs of the state.

So centuries after centuries, the development of an entire industry in Russia took place.

In truth, the factories of Kyshtym district have become the center of art cast iron. Here, on the shores of Lake Bolshoi Kasli, in 1747 the merchant Korobkov founded the Kaslinsky iron foundry and smelter.

So in the Urals, the whole art of the Ural openwork iron casting was born, which later became world famous, the history of which is quite prosaic and is associated with the growing needs of both industry and the local population. Massly produced items of kitchen utensils, pans, cast-iron, cauldrons, etc. Subsequently, openwork candlesticks, elegant ashtrays.

The heyday of the art of cast iron in Kasli falls on the years 1880-1900. During this period, the most significant sculptural works were made, including monuments that now adorn the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg and even interior elements for the Winter Palace. At the end of the nineteenth century, Russian masters already created unsurpassed examples of art cast iron in large and small sculptures, as well as in architecture.

Excellent products created by serf peasant nuggets more than 100 years ago, and now demonstrates Kaslinsky casting shop ural-antik.ru in their collections.

Kaslinsky casting, distinguished by its magnificent artistic and plastic qualities, careful study of the smallest details and a noble black matte color, is not inferior to the best sculptural works made in bronze. Note the fact that the technology of iron casting is much more complex and time-consuming in comparison with the technology for making bronze sculptures.

These features are explained, first of all, by high-quality cast iron, the unique natural qualities of the molding mixture, as well as the high qualification of the factory workers: molders, minters, and painting masters. Of great importance for the development of the art of casting in Castle was the close ties of the plant with talented European and Russian sculptors such as Eugene Lanceray, Peter Klodt, Bach, Alexander Ober, Claudion, Jean-Louis Gaultier and others.

In 1860, the plant’s products were awarded the Small Gold Medal of the Free Economic Society and a small silver medal at a textile exhibition in St. Petersburg. Honorary diplomas, gold and silver medals were won by Kaslins at the World Exhibitions in Paris (1867 and 1900), in Vienna (1873), Philadelphia (1876), Copenhagen (1888), and Stockholm (1897).

The Kaslinsky Casting Pavilion, presented at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, aroused extraordinary interest and brought worldwide fame to the plant. It was designed by architect Eugene Baumgarten. The pavilion was assembled from a large number of parts, which were then fixed on a special frame. The Kaslinsky Pavilion with fabulous birds, ancient ships, fantastic fish and flowers, not only attracted the attention of the public, but was also awarded the highest award. Nowadays, the pavilion is recreated and shown in the art museum of Yekaterinburg. In 1978, the pavilion was registered by UNESCO as the only cast-iron architectural composition in the world. By the end of the 80s. sculptures made in Kasli adorned many cities of the Soviet Union, the Netherlands, Great Britain, and the USA.

In the time of troubled perestroika, the Kaslinsky machine-building plant, as it was then called, practically ceased its activity, and in 2002 it was declared bankrupt altogether. The revival of the enterprise as a whole and the direction of artistic casting began after 2004. The plant underwent a complete reconstruction, new production facilities were built, and today it is a fully functioning, successful enterprise. Having celebrated its 260th anniversary in 2007, the plant continues to maintain and enhance its traditions and expand its product range.

Today, Kasli castings are passionate collectibles and simply collected by enthusiastic people who make their choice by buying a sincere, good “Schoolgirl with a Briefcase” figurine, removing “foreign” and non-native items brought from China, the USA, etc. from the shelves. d.

Sheremet Vladimir, Kaslinsky casting shop ural-antik.ru