Hellenistic Toreutics from the Sarmatian Burial Mound near Volzhsky. Part II

The article examines the manufacturing technique of two unique silver vessels from a Sarmatian burial near the city of Volzhsky. They are complex, highly artistic works of the Hellenistic period. Such early finds with such high relief have not been found before. Technical features on these vessels, identified by the traceological method, made it possible to reconstruct the entire production cycle of their manufacture and repair. They were made from several parts using punching, basma, casting, chasing, engraving, professional turning and metalworking. The relief on the outer shells of the products was formed using the basma chasing techniques with the inclusion of cast sculptural details. Patches were placed during the manufacturing process on silver and lead-tin solder. The names of the depicted characters were signed with chisel blows. Then all parts of the vessels were gilded and assembled on a soft lead-tin solder. The most unique characteristic of the gilding is its polychromy, which is encountered for the first time in Greek jewelry practice. At the final stage of work, the weight of the product and the names of the masters, Epikrat and Sfairos, were minted on the bottoms of both vessels. During the period of their existence, the skyphoi were damaged and repaired by another person. An interesting feature of these vessels is their handles, the upper horizontal plates of which have curls on the side ends. Both skyphoi were made by Greek sculptors who worked in one of the major centers of mainland Greece or Asia Minor.