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Mikhailova-En’kka E. Data about Breast Decorations in the Form of Silver “Suns” from the Memoirs of Józef Kopeć about His Journey through Russia at the End of the 18th century

Elena Mikhailova-En’kka
Independent researcher
Cheboksary, Russian Federation
ORCID: 0000-0002-3209-0712
Е-mail: ee.chv@yandex.ru

 

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ABSTRACT. The article considers the ethnographic part of the memoirs of the participant of the Polish Uprising of 1794, Józef Kopeć, about his capture, exile and journey to Kamchatka, dedicated to the peoples of the Volga-Urals. It is assumed that this part is a later insertion, not written by Kopeć. Nevertheless, the data given in this insert have ethnographic significance, especially the unique message about women’s breast ornaments cast from silver in the form of the sun. In the original Polish edition of 1837, these ornaments belong to the non-Russian and non-Tatar peoples of the Volga-Ural region. Translated into Russian in 1896, silver “suns” are attributed specifically to Chuvash women, which made it possible for a number of researchers to associate these “suns” with the kĕskĕ — breast embroidery of Chuvash women’s shirts, which, according to the “Dictionary of the Chuvash Language” by N. I. Ashmarin, are images of the sun. The article also examines the images of costumes (and jewelry in the form of the sun) of Kazan, Kungur and Ufa Tatars, published in the publications of an ethnographic nature of the XVIII century. It is assumed that it is impossible at this stage to specifically assign silver “suns” to any ethnic group of the Volga-Ural region. The ways for further research of this issue are outlined, with special attention paid to the Chuvash folk costume, including the existence of sets of jewelry, historical and linguistic analysis of terms related to clothing and, first of all, kĕskĕ.

 

KEYWORDS: Józef Kopeć, Gerhard Friedrich Müller, Johann Gottlieb Georgi, Tatars, Chuvash, Cheremis, breast jewelry made of silver

 

FOR CITATION: Mikhailova-En’kka E. Data about Breast Decorations in the Form of Silver “Suns” from the Memoirs of Józef Kopeć about His Journey through Russia at the End of the 18th century. Kunstkamera. 2023. 2(20): 67–75. (In Russian). doi 10.31250/2618-8619-2023-2(20)-67-75  

 

DOI 10.31250/2618-8619-2023-2(20)-67-75
УДК 391

 

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