The Adygeysk Museum of Local Lore presents a watch sheath made of black velvet with a goldwork ornament. Three different ornaments are embroidered on the case. According to its previous owner, this sheath belonged to her husband’s grandmother. It is more than 100 years old and has been a part of the museum’s collection since 1996.

Adyghe craftswomen often used several embroidery techniques in one product. The Adyghe decorative pattern has always been distinguished by its grace and conciseness, sense of proportion in composition, and symmetry. Horns, circles, triangles, rhombuses, trefoils, curls, tendrils of plants are all hallmarks of the Adyghe ornament. Regardless of whether the decorative pattern was used in women’s clothing, men’s military equipment or household items — its main purpose is to decorate the object, emphasize its shape and the beauty of the material used. In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, the ornament is also a talisman.

The first written mention of the ancestors of the Adyghe doing goldwork can be found only in the 10th century AD. The Arab traveler and geographer Abul-Hassan Masudi wrote that the women of the Kasogs (ancestors of modern Adyghe) ”… wear white clothes, Roman brocade, purple garments, and other types of silk fabrics woven with gold”. The next five centuries in the development of this art form are shrouded in mystery.

The main application of goldwork was decorating women’s clothing and shoes. Representatives of noble families were mainly engaged in goldwork and making passementeries. Training in this skill was an obligatory part of their upbringing. Nevertheless, the clothes of the ruling classes, richly decorated with gold embroidery, were made not only by noble women, but also by the girls of the estates dependent upon them.