Gotscha Lagidse

Metalworker

©Otto Kalkhoven

©Etienne Homs

A craftsman for shining armour

Gotscha started his craft at the age of 14
He trained by himself in a museum depot
Originally from Georgia, he now lives in the Netherlands

Gotscha Lagidse made his first creations, a chain mail and knight’s helmet, in his native country Georgia when he was just 14 years old. A history teacher instilled in him the love of metalworking and of traditional weaponry. “He showed me his own collection of historical weaponry. I was so fascinated by the beauty of the objects and the stories surrounding them that I studied them in detail, so I could make similar ones myself.” At the age of 21, Gotscha was a metal restorer in a national museum in Tbilisi. He remains inspired by the rich military history of Georgia, but broadened his scope to European armaments after moving to the Netherlands. He gained recognition in his new homeland with the reconstruction of an armour that once belonged to Prince Maurits of Nassau. Today Gotscha makes more than just weaponry.

Interview

©Otto Kalkhoven

©Otto Kalkhoven

What is your educational background?: I graduated as an electrical engineer. As a metalworker and specialist in traditional weapons I am entirely self-taught. I trained myself by examining historical objects in a museum depot in Georgia in my early twenties. Back then all I had was a pencil, paper and ruler.
What is a memorable moment in your work life?: Shortly after coming to the Netherlands, the Royal Dutch Army and Arms Museum commissioned me to make a reconstruction of a medieval armour that once belonged to Prince Maurits of Nassau. It was an emotional project, which took me a year to finish.
What does well made mean to you?: I always say that I don’t make replicas, but historical reconstructions. I don’t create exact copies of weaponry, but artworks with added value that stand up to the scrutiny of the most critical of experts.
How do you express tradition and innovation in your work?: I always carry out extensive research into how traditional objects used to be made, but I don’t stick to those old techniques. My workshop looks more like a laboratory than a forge. I use plenty of innovative instruments to reach the highest quality in my work.

Gotscha Lagidse is an expert artisan he began his career in 1986