Men-goldsmiths: materials for the history of ancient Russian fine sewing

This article is the first attempt to prove that in pre-Petrine Russia there was a male gold- sewing business, which has the right to be studied both as an independent phenomenon and as an important part of the history of Old Russian fine sewing, traditionally perceived as a purely female craft. The author does not in any way deny the existence of the gender principle of the division of crafts in Ancient Russia, but only seeks to show that the division of such into female and male was not as strict and unconditional as it is usually presented in scientific works. The basis for this conclusion is the materials presented in the article about the works of the golden-footed men at the royal and patriarchal and boyar courts, biographical data of already known craftsmen and newly identified masters. On the basis of indirect information and obvious facts, an opinion is expressed about the uniqueness of medieval tailors, who possessed a wide variety of skills, which makes it difficult to find gold seamstresses. Special attention is paid to professional terminology, its instability during the XV-XVII centuries.