Emin Nadiroglu Mammadov was born in 1979 into a culturally rich traditional family. After more than two decades of apprenticeship and research, he has been at the forefront of the revival of traditional craftsmanship applied to historical ethnic arms and armour. He showed particular interest in arms and armour from an early age. Emin is particularly interested in Islamic Arms associated with historical Azerbaijan, the Ottoman Empire, the Caucasus, and the region that extends into modern day Iran.

Emin spent years studying the ancient techniques of weapon craftsmanship blended with research into traditional patterns and ornamentation, the history and artistry of silversmithing while in parallel securing his advanced education in geology and engineering in Germany, culminating in award of his PhD degree. Over many years of research, he gathered knowledge and unique insights into the history of art and craftsmanship that allowed him to write what is perhaps the definitive historical text on the subject “The Azerbaijan Armourer’s Art” which was published in 2020 and has since received critical acclaim and awards.

The Mammadovs are firm believers in keeping old traditions and values. Leaving material culture behind eventually leads to the disappearance of core knowledge and creates individuals who are bereft of culture, pride and a sense of who they are and where they come from, something which leads to vulnerability in this challenging world.

Learning new things is an eternal process that was set and shaped into his character as a child and young man by his father, Nadir Mammadov. The years spent in Kiel, Schleswig Holstein saw Emin’s interests expand and mature.

Emin spent significant time being an apprentice and follower of A. Danelia’s and S. Jabrayilbayova’s schools, using his dynamic energy and growing knowledge and skills to shape the development and production of authentic style in the pieces he was working on. He has been instrumental in supporting several museums in Azerbaijan and fostering a wider recognition of historical national arms heritage.

He moved to Canada after many years working in the Middle East, the Caucasus and other regions, where he took a course in firearms repair in 2017 in Montreal, Quebec.

Emin continuously strives to hone his professional competence level and combines his day job in engineering and management with his passion for historical arms, armour, metalworking, art and the cultural legacy left by his forefathers.