The Russian Artels
The artels we groups of craftsman, artists, and makers formed in Imperial Russia as semi formal co-operatives in different fields like agriculture, fishing, mining, timber industry and gold/silver smithing. Most of the artels focused their artistry in the fine arts and gold, silver smithing, and enameling fueled the artels and they produced some of the finest works ever known. These workshops produced unique objects or pieces of art of very high quality. The artels form with groups of more than 5 owners or attendants. Each artel had its own rules and you were obliged to obey them if you should be a part of their group. In this case most members did as they bonded together both living and working collectively. The artels that formed pushed artistry and craftsmanship to levels unmatched at the time. Master workshops pushed enamel to new heights towards the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century.
The artels’ series of numbers is not complete. Unfortunately there is no evidence of the existence of a silver artel carrying any of the following numbers: 10, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27 or 30. Why the series of numbers is incomplete is not known yet there may be evidence of these artels in the future.
The artels’ series of numbers is not complete. Unfortunately there is no evidence of the existence of a silver artel carrying any of the following numbers: 10, 16, 17, 19, 21, 24, 27 or 30. Why the series of numbers is incomplete is not known yet there may be evidence of these artels in the future.
