Technical and Technological Features of Kazan-Tatar Filigree: Retrospective Ethnic-Archeological Analysis

The article considers the technical and technological parameters of Kazan-Tatar filigree (openwork, granulous and overlay) with the purpose of determining its genesis and ethnic specific features. The authors determined that the Kazan-Tatar filigree of 18th – 19th centuries is characterized by the application of practically all types of wire discovered in the Volga region since the 12th century: smooth, filigree, flattened and stamped. The type of filigree most widely spread among the Kazan Tatars was delicate filigree. Its predominant technical and technological parameters indicate the stability of the national tradition with the character of an indicator. The manufacturing traditions of openwork filigree most likely were established under the influence of the Golden Horde. Of special interest in terms of genesis is the ethnic specific granulous filigree. It is not represented in archaeological and early ethnographic Tatar materials. Granulous filigree with no base, similar to Tatar filigree, is present in the secular tradition of Western European countries. Overlay granulous filigree has been encountered in Russian cult tradition.