Unique Leather Mosaic from Kazan

Kazan leather mosaic is a unique leather art that was developed in Kazan-city, Tatarstan, Russia centuries ago. It is a sophisticated and delicate combination of the softest leather and traditional Tatar ethnic ornaments cut and meticulously stitched together by hand.

Tatar boots, 19 century

Widely popular and famous across Russia, throughout Europe and Asia in the 18 and 19^th centuries, so-called Kazan or Tatar boots crafted using the leather mosaic technique are re-gaining their popularity thanks to growing number of dedicated and passionate craftsmen who have been creating masterpieces by hand.

Kazan stitch – the bonding mechanism of the technique – cannot be reproduced by a machine.

The art of Kazan leather mosaic has rocky history. The period since the Soviet Union collapse has been the hardest time for a few craftsmen left to keep the art alive. They took much effort to keep the art alive. Recent years has brought great interest and attention to the world to craftsmanship and authntic carfts: the traditional art of leather mosaic has gained many supporters and several young masters. Much still needs to be done to preserve, revive, and popularize the art of unique Kazan leather mosaic across generations and nations.

Unique Leather Mosaic.com website is aimed to:

• introduce to English-speaking audience the unique authentic technique;
• promote the art and find supporters;
• popularize the art among younger generations and encourage them to consider craftsmanship for career;
• explain the importance of preservation of authentic and endangered arts;
• introduce new places, like Tatarstan, to American audience

This website is the first attempt to summarize what is available in hard and electronic formats about the art of Kazan leather mosaic and to present it for English-speaking audience. The information on the website is gathered, translated, interpreted and arranged by huge fans of the art of Kazan leather mosaic: Chulpan, Ideliya and Rafik.

We find that the art of leather mosaic is not as appreciated and popular as it should be.  If you find Kazan leather mosaic interesting, promising, and exceptional,  please share it with us! Feel free to contact us for more information about this project.