The creator of the sculptural composition displayed in the Ishim collection is a member of the Artists' Union of Russia, Tobolsk bone-carver Minsalim Timergazeev. He studied the craft at the art studio of the Tobolsk art bone carving products factory, and then took courses at the Abramtsevo School of Applied Arts. From 1967 to 1981, he worked at the Tobolsk art bone carving products factory, and then as a teacher at the town’s art school for children. In the early 1990s, Minsalim Timergazeev founded the art-industrial guild “Minsalim” at the Tobolsk State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve. “Minsalim” in translation from the Tatar means “be blessed.” His children also worked in the guild.
The master carves sculptures without sketching, immediately “in his hands”; but for some customers, he can also prepare sketches. His exhibitions and creative meetups are held in Salekhard, Magadan, Murmansk, as well as in many cities in Germany and Finland.
The complex composition “Kuchum Khan” is based on the legend of the Siberian Kuchum Khan. Kuchum is a descendant of Genghis Khan. In the 16th century, he conquered most of Siberia but refused to pledge his allegiance to Tsar Boris Godunov. The Russian army attacked him and his soldiers, but Kuchum Khan fled to the Kalmyks, who received him as a guest, with honor, and hid him from the tsarist war leaders. After a while, Kuchum decided to return to the Ishim lands and ordered his followers to steal horses from the Kalmyks for the road. The angry Kalmyks caught up with them on the Nor-Ishim River near Lake Kargalchina, but Kuchum managed to escape this time as well. Soon he was killed by other enemies — the Kazakh Horde.
In reality Kuchum disappeared in a foreign land, the legend says, however, that his war horse brought the dying khan to his native lands, to his last stop — Kuchum Mountain near Ishim. It was this episode that Minsalim Timergazeev depicted. Kuchum Mountain (Ishim Hills) is a natural monument, which is located on the right bank of the Ishim River, northeast to the village of Ragozin. Mountains are a rare phenomenon for the Tyumen region, where flat terrain prevails. Rare and endangered species of plants, animals, and fungi have been preserved around the Kuchum Mountain. During archaeological excavations, an ancient Sarmatian settlement, which scientists date to 3000 years old, was discovered on the territory of the mountain range.
The master carves sculptures without sketching, immediately “in his hands”; but for some customers, he can also prepare sketches. His exhibitions and creative meetups are held in Salekhard, Magadan, Murmansk, as well as in many cities in Germany and Finland.
The complex composition “Kuchum Khan” is based on the legend of the Siberian Kuchum Khan. Kuchum is a descendant of Genghis Khan. In the 16th century, he conquered most of Siberia but refused to pledge his allegiance to Tsar Boris Godunov. The Russian army attacked him and his soldiers, but Kuchum Khan fled to the Kalmyks, who received him as a guest, with honor, and hid him from the tsarist war leaders. After a while, Kuchum decided to return to the Ishim lands and ordered his followers to steal horses from the Kalmyks for the road. The angry Kalmyks caught up with them on the Nor-Ishim River near Lake Kargalchina, but Kuchum managed to escape this time as well. Soon he was killed by other enemies — the Kazakh Horde.
In reality Kuchum disappeared in a foreign land, the legend says, however, that his war horse brought the dying khan to his native lands, to his last stop — Kuchum Mountain near Ishim. It was this episode that Minsalim Timergazeev depicted. Kuchum Mountain (Ishim Hills) is a natural monument, which is located on the right bank of the Ishim River, northeast to the village of Ragozin. Mountains are a rare phenomenon for the Tyumen region, where flat terrain prevails. Rare and endangered species of plants, animals, and fungi have been preserved around the Kuchum Mountain. During archaeological excavations, an ancient Sarmatian settlement, which scientists date to 3000 years old, was discovered on the territory of the mountain range.
