The village smithy that you see was reconstituted based on the research conducted in Kolinkivţi village, Hotin department. The craft of smithy was widely spread. Iron processing by manual methods allowed the making and mending of different tools which were used in agriculture, that is why the blacksmiths were respected craftsmen in the community.
The smithies could be rich, middle and poor. The rich ones were covered with tiles or sheet iron and the middle ones with shingle.
In order to keep a smithy, there was a tax to pay, depending on the size and the income. The poor blacksmiths, which could only mend some tools and for which this craft only supplemented the income, were exempted from paying the taxes.
The building was made observing the construction technique on frames. The walls are coated with a thick layer of clay and whitewashed. The two-leaf door opens to the outside. In front of the door, by the wall, there is the hearth with the chimney. In the hearth, the processing material was heated to a certain temperature, which the blacksmith decided upon the colour of the metal. On the left of the hearth, there are the leather bellows, with the help of which the fire was kindled and the desired temperature was reached. Close to the door, there is a large oak log and the anvil is placed on it. Next to the hearth, there is the water barrel, which served to cool the water and to harden the iron. Along the frontal wall, on shelves and tables, the tools of the blacksmith are exhibited: the anvil, hammers, tongs, and die-stocks. Most of this ironware was made by the blacksmith himself; the other ones, together with the raw material – the iron – were bought from the town. The tools and craft secrets were transmitted from father to son.