Traditional Types of Caskets Decoration and the Modern Restoration Experience

10.33876/2311-0546/2024-1/286-298

Abstract

The article discusses various techniques for decorating caskets, including wood and bone carving, gemstone inlay, woodburning, painting, and more. The variety of applied artistic methods and pictorial possibilities is demonstrated on the example of unique, historically valuable products made at different times by masters of Ancient Egypt, Byzantium, France, China and Russia. To the authors' opinion, knowledge of decoration technologies used by masters of traditional crafts is important not only for production of modern similar artifacts, but also for the restoration activities. The authors describe the process of restoration of the casket made by the Vyatka artel "Pobeda" dated 1950–1960s. The place of manufacture is confirmed by the character of carving with typical "shining" and "rosette" ornaments (in the form of dihedral and trihedral notches) and landscape painting.