Gotscha was born in 1965 in Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia in the South Caucasus (now an independent country, but then part of the Soviet Union).

During his school years in the first experimental primary and secondary school of Tbilisi he showed exceptional talent in the art of painting, mathematics and physics. In 1979, with the support of his parents and after successfully completing his exams he was accepted at the special institute for higher education, named after V. Komarov. A teacher of history at this school, Djuanscher Djurchadze, a nationally beloved person and collector of antique art, fans the interest of the young Gotscha for swords and suits of armour, that are part of the Georgian history and that even now serve as a treasure of reliquary value in every traditional family.

With the support of his teacher he makes his first work in metal, a trial of a mail shirt. Directly afterwards he produces a traditional helm, "Gudamakhruli Tschabalachi". When Gotscha’s teacher sees his exceptional interest and the surprising results of these first endeavors, he gives him as a ‘prize’ a Persian shield from his collection.

When he is 17 years old, Gotscha starts his studies at the Technical University in Tbilisi. He studies with relish under the guidance of decaan Prof. Vachtang Gabrichidze and other professors of talent and he completes the full course of this institute. In 1989 he passes the National Exam and receives a qualification as electrical engineer.

Next to his studies at the institute Gotscha carries on his research into traditional suits of armour and swords. Nearly every week he visits the National Museum in Tbilisi and comes into contact with Prof. Kote Tscholokhaschvili, director of collections, and with the curator of the museum, Vachtang Schoschitaschvili M.A. They allow Gotscha to study in the depot of the museum.

From 1985 he works on the reconstruction of a national armour, ‘Abjari’ which directly after its completion in 1988, is presented with great success on the Georgian television film under the title "A shirt of Mail", directed by Dela Kvachadze. Referees are Prof. Kote Tscholokhaschvili, artist and art critic Guram Gabaschvili and artist Themur Sulchanischvili, leader of the project for restoration of the gates of Theater Rustaveli. Gotscha’s work is then selected for the exhibitions in the House of Culture in Tbilisi, organized by the Ministry of Culture, and for exhibition in Burg Hasseg/Hall in Tyrol, Austria.

From 1988 he works actively as a sculptor. Next to this he carries out several restoration projects, and does research in the method of making the Georgian steel ‘Djavari’, that was used to create sables and daggers of the finest quality – a method which was still in use in the 19^th century.

From 1987 Gotscha works part-time for the Art Society in Tbilisi. In that time he completes some personal orders from Prof. Zurab Tsereteli, and after his studies he is offered a very good position as Head of Metal Restoration, at the National Service for the Preservation of Monuments, in the National Museum of Architecture and Life style in Tbilisi, which he accepts.

Gotscha came to The Netherlands in 1994, 31 years old. From that time he lives and works in The Netherlands. He makes his art for museums, galleries and collectors, creates his so called free (unapplied) art works, fashions exclusive jewellery on special order, does restoration projects and creates liturgical art objects for the Church. His work is regularly shown at exhibitions.

In 1997 Gotscha receives an invitation from Prof. Alfred Habermann, professor of the European Centre for the Preservation of Monuments, at the UNESCO in Venice. In 1998 Gotscha receives an official invitation to take part in the International Arts and Crafts Fair in Jerusalem, with the involvement of the Dutch Embassy in Israel.

Also in 1998 he executes an order for the Dutch Army and Arms Museum in Delft, the reconstruction of a Northern-Dutch cavalry suit of armour from 1590, which once belonged to Prince Maurits of Nassau and which is kept in the Art Historical Museum in Vienna.

Gotscha completes personal orders for Henk Visser, owner of the ‘’Collection Visser’ in Wassenaar. 2001-2002, by invitation of the Rijksmuseum, Gotscha gives lectures at the ICN – Netherlands Institute for Cultural Heritage in Amsterdam.

In 1988 Gotscha was honored by the Ministry of Culture of Georgia with the title of the People’s Arts of Georgia.

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gotscha_Lagidse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gocha_Laghidze

https://www.homofaber.com/en/discover/gotscha-lagidse-metalworking-netherlands

Important orders and projects

1987-1990 Improvised Georgian suits of armour ordered by Prof. Zurab Tsereteli - the President of the Russian Academy of Art (RAA), President of the Moscow International Foundation for Support to UNESCO; UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador”

 1997 Orthodox Parish of St. Nektarios in Eindhoven: Cross of St. Nino, brass, to be placed on the Royal Door in front of the Altar of the church

1997 Protestant Church Community of Den Bosch: two gilded stainless steel chalices

1997 - Painter Zura Kalanda (Kalandadze) - Cross of St. Nino

1997 Prof. Alfred Habermann, Germany: exclusively designed jewellery – an iron chain to wear

1997-1998 Royal Dutch Army and Arms Museum: Rider’s suit or armour after the personal suit of armour of Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567-1625), kept in the collection of ‘Hofjagd- und Rüstkamer des Kunsthistorischen Museums’ in Vienna

1998-2000 The Visser Collection Wassenaar: Mauritshelmet and weapon gloves, miniature suit of armour of prince Maurits (scale 1:4), which won an international prize in Luxemburg

1999 Gallery Bremmer in Tilburg – The Netherlands: silver brooch/insigne for the composer Jan van Dijk, by means of honorary decoration at the occasion of his jubilee

1999 Matthew Synod in Athens: a ‘Panagia’, an Episcopal liturgical medallion, silver, with inset icon of the Holy Mother of God

1999 Foundation Castle Heeswijk, in Heeswijk: restoration and conservation of historical suits of armour and helms

2000 Historical Museum Don Quixote in Drunen, conservation of the Maximelians armour

2000 Hervion College in Den Bosch: given several workshops

2001/2002 ICN – Dutch Institute for Collections, an organization of the Dutch Ministry of Culture: the giving of lectures, in Amsterdam

2002/2003 Royal Dutch Army and Arms Museum in Delft: an artistic improvised suit of armour of a piekeman meant to be exhibited at the museum on special occasions

2003 Bruno Maurer, Swiss Army Museum: Topfhelm, after the Helmet (1300) from "Collection Boissonas", France 

2003 Bruno Maurer, Swiss Army Museum: an artistic improvised "Spangenhelm", after the Franks helmet  of VI century BC from Collection Landesmuseum Bonn, Germany

2003 Veluws Museum Nairac in Barneveld, The Netherlands: a sculpture showing Jan van Schaffelaar as armoured knight after the painting of Frederich Herlin St.Joris 1460, collection Stadtmuseum Nördlingen, Germany 

2004 Quatre Saisons in Zevenbergen, Sculpture "Moerdijkbroeg"

2004 Koninklijke Harmonie Nut en vermaak, restoration and conservation of antic "Schellebomen"

2004 Children suit or armour after the painting of Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange (1567-1625), kept in the collection of ‘Koninklijk Huisarchief" in Den Haag

2005 De Nood b.v. in Middelburg - restoration of copper lantern

2005 Historical Museum Don Quixote in Drunen

2005 Restauratiearchitectuur BBM, OOME Bouwbedrijf, Steenhouwerij Maarsen - Lantern model "Amsterdam"

2006 Stichting Kasteel Montfort,  - Design and production of Lantern model "Montfort"

 2006 Orthodox Parish of St. Nektarios in Eindhoven: a sacred object ranks helmSacred obiekt  for the church

2007 – Art Academy in Antwerpen (Belgium): the giving of lectures, in Amsterdam

2008 Historical Museum Don Quixote in Drunen - gothic armour interpretation of the painting of Frederich Herlin St.Joris 1460, collection Stadtmuseum Nördlingen, Germany

2008 Historical Museum "Don Quixote" in Drunen - Children suit or armour

2008 "Rocketeer helmet"

2008 Gemeente Deventer - restauratie van kroonluchters uit 1641 voor de Bergkerk in Deventer

2009 Georgisch Nationaal Museum - Workshops en trainingen gegeven - Restauratie/conservatie van historische wapens in het Georgisch Nationaal Museum. Project "Temporary Return of Qualified Nationals" is gefinancierd door het Nederlandse Ministerie van Buitenlandse zaken en uitgevoerd door Internationale organisatie va Migratie (IOM).

2010 Workshop Bulat/Wootz staal met Zaqro Nonikashvili, Seerp visser en Klaas remmen, Antwerpen (België).

2011 - Dolk "Prins"in samenwerking met kunstenaar Irakli megrelishvili in Tbilisi

2011 - Internationale Symposium "Georgian Bulati"in Antwerpen.

2011 - Perzische shamshir "Giorgi Saakadze"

2011-2012 Tsholauri zwaard met goudinleg.

2012 - Tsholauri zwaard met zilver beslag.

2012 - 2013 - Georgische zwaard met Daghestan (Amuzga) kling.

2013 - Gorda zwaard van Familie Bagrationi.

2013 - Reconstructie Swanetian schild

2013 - Riem dolk "laghi".

2014 Zwaard Giorgi Saakadze.

2015 - Giorgi Laghidze, medewerker van het Weapons and Precious Metals Fund van het Janashia Museum van het National Museum of Georgia, praktijk in Nederland.

2015 - "Shamil", Kaukasisch dolk.

2015 - Dolk "Gurieli".

2016 - Imertian dagger, (particuliere bestelling uit Georgië).

2016 - Imeruli "Kabani-zwaard met hanger, (particuliere bestelling uit Georgië)

2017 - reconstructie van de Swanetian boog.

2018 - Khevsuri-zwaard met hanger (particuliere bestelling uit de Verenigde Staten van Amerika).

2018 - Dubbel dolk "Tbilisi".

2019 - Zwaard "Ardoti".

2019 - Tbilisi-zwaard met ophanging, Tbilisi satevari met riem, Chokhi-snaren, allemaal in de stijl van de 19e-eeuwse Tbilisi-wapensmid Giorgi Eliarashvili, (onderhandse bestelling uit Zwitserland).

2019 - "Sea Knight" helm en zwaard, in opdracht van Museum Markiesenhof, Bergen op Zoo (Nederland).

2020 - Reconstructie van het zwaard van hertog Karel van Egmond van Gelderland, sociëteit "Eusebius" Daqueta, St. Arnhem (Nederland).

2021 - Tbilisi Dagger in de stijl van Khacheturi Beburov.

2020-21 - Tbilisi vergulde Cholauri in de stijl van Giorgi Eliarashvili, privéslachting uit Zwitserland.

2021-22 - Britse koning George VI Sword of Honor (Zwaard van Stalingrad).

2021-22 Tbilisi vergulde cholauri in de stijl van de 19e-eeuwse wapensmid Giorgi Eliarashvili***

more

2004  Museum (Altes Zeughaus Solothurn), Solothurn, Switzerland

2004 Het Muziekcentrum Vredenburg, Utrecht, Holland

2004 De Koninklijke Schouwburg, Den Haag, Holland

2004 Royal Netherlands Army and Arms Museum Delft, Presentation of Boy Armour of prince of Orange by Gotscha Lagidse

2005 Galerie Bremmer, Tilburg / Holland

2005 Georgiëdag, Lezing/diapresentatie, Vondelkerk Amsterdam

2006 NGK Smedendagen, Regthuysplein in Nieuwkoop / Holland

2006 Lezing/diapresentatie bij "51 Hasselt", Hasselt / Belgium

2006 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2007 "Expositie "Maurits en Oranje geheim", Legermuseum Delft / Holland

2007/2008 Museum Galerie "Kharvasla" Tbilisi, Georgia

2008 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel (Holland)

2008 - Exhibition "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen (Holland)

2009 - Exhibition "Salon Liégeons de I'Arme Ancienne", Luik (Belgium)

2009 - Exhibition "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen (Holland)

2010 - Exhibition "Salon Liégeons de I'Arme Ancienne", Luik (Belgium)

2010 - Exhibition "Musket", Antwerpen, (Belgium)

2010 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel (Holland)

2010 - Exhibition "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen (Holland)

2011 - "Musket" fair, Antwerpen (Belgium)

2011 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel (Holland)

2011 -  Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2011 - "Salon Liégeons de I'Arme Ancienne", Luik (Belgium)

2011 "Salon International de la Coutellerie d’Art et de Collection" (SICAC) in Parijs (France)

2011 Presentation by Rotary Club in Zierikzee (Holland) 

2011 - Exposition by "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen (Holland)

2012 - Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2012 - "Musket" fair, Antwerpen (Belgium)

2012 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel (Holland)

2012 - "Salon Liégeons de I'Arme Ancienne", Luik (Belgium)

2013 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2013 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2013 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2012 - DKE Knife Sow, Gembloux, Belgie

2013 - Presentatie bij Bossche Gilde van Goudsmeden

2013 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2013 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2013 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2013 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2014 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2014 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2014 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2014 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2015 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2015 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2015 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2015 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2016 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2016 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2016 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2016 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2017 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2017 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2017 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2017 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2018 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2018 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2018 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2018 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2019 Foyer Communal de Gembloux, Gembloux / Belgium

2019 - "Musket" beurs, Antwerpen

2019 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Tiel

2019 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2019 - DKE Knife Sow, Gembloux, Belgie

2020 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2021 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2022 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Gorkum

2022 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2022 Persoonlijke Expositie in Museum Markeizenhof

2023 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Gorkum

2023 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2024 - "Dutch Knife Exhibition", Gorkum

2024 - expositie "VVNW beurs", Voorthuizen

2024 - Tbilisi Art Knife Show 2024

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