Serial casting of medieval small forms bronze toreutics from Central Asia: results of experimental studies

The article presents the results of experimental serial casting of Medieval non-ferrous metal small forms toreutics from the Central Asian region. The aim of the study was to identify changes in the ornament when copying small forms toreutics and casting series of different items. As examples, the authors used bronze plaques from the end of the 1st millennium AD with the “fig flower” composition from the Tyukhtyat hoard (Minusinsk Basin). A total of 24 samples were made, which were divided into six series. Three first-order series were made using smelted or imprinted wax models. Two second-order series were cast using imprints of items from the first-order series. One third-order series was obtained using the imprint from the second-order items. The standards were digitized using 3D-scanning. The study of the 3D-models included the comparison of the items from the series with original samples and the assessment of the differences in the relief of the ornament. The authors revealed degradation of the ornament on the standards when copying castings. This degradation manifested in the levelling of the relief. The obtained data can be used for detailing the manufacturing technology, organization of production and distribution of medieval belt and horse harness fittings in the Southern Siberian region.