GAJKORI

GAJKORI is the variety of decorative-applied arts, connected with the craft of carving/engraving.

Gaj is the variety of white soft stone, especial mineral that is boiled and then used to decorate buildings mildly.

The powder of gaj is also used, differing with its special mildness. It is called gulkaj. The craft kajkori as distinct of carving is easier and simpler in carving. However the use of it requires a strict observance of special difficult rules.

The names of ornaments are as follow: ruta, yakraftor, seraftor, islimii bargi, haqshi munnabatt, davragul, turunj, kitoba, tablu, guli girekh, hamoyon etc.

Working instruments are as follow: qalam, piltaqalam, minqor, shuturgardan, patakbinni, pukhqalam, navo, qalami shukufta, morpech as well as iskanai nova, iskanai kunjak, iskanai rost, pardozi/gulqalam, darafsh, elak, satil, andovachub, chubi rost, akhta (tracing paper) etc.

The process of gajkori consists of eight working stages. Since gach is white, decoration lightens the inside part of buildings. The symbolic of gajkori was formed during centuries. Today, it has turned into the pride of aesthetic taste of nation.

In the Middle Ages, it was used in building madrasahs, mosques, mausoleums, and even living houses. The traditional technology gajkori includes the following kinds: zaminkor, lulapardoz (bilayer), and tabaqpardoz (predominantly – a plant world). Gulgaj has been recognized as the best technology.

The gajkori art is predominantly used at decorating the houses of administrative and cultural significance. Among them there are the building of State Academic Theatre of Ballet and Opera named after S. Aini, the old building of National Library named after Firdawsi, the Teahouses “Rokhat” and “Saodat”, the hotel “Tajikistan” (Dushanbe), Republic museum named after Rudaki (Penjikent), a museum complex “2 700 years old of Kullyab” (Kulob), and others.

Well-known masters of gajkori are Asadov M., Ghafurov A., Usto Amriddin, Qodirov Mirzorahim, Qodirov Abduqodir, brothers Abdusattor and Abduqahhor, brothers Fozil and Khusein, Maqsud, Sharof, todays Tajik ustos Makhmudov Saidjon, Khaidarov Tolibjon, Jum’ayev Khasanboi, Akhmedov Rahimberdi Odinayev Mansurboi, and Khamdamov Rahimjon.