A drawing die is an ancient tool that is still used in production today, albeit in a modified form. The old bone tool from the museum’s collection was found during archaeological excavations in 1990 at the site of the Idnakar hillfort in Soldyr. The expedition, consisting of experts from the Udmurt Institute of History, Language and Literature, was led by Professor Margarita Grigoryevna Ivanova.

In the Middle Ages, dies were made from animal bones. Using hand tools, holes of different diameters were drilled in them. Dies were quite important in the Prikamye region: in the 9th–13th centuries, the Idnakar hillfort was a center of non-ferrous metal processing and jewelry.

Using this drawing tool, craftsmen pulled wire from metal blanks to change its thickness and length. For that, a copper rod was made — it was sharpened and placed in the largest hole of the die. There, its end was grabbed with pliers, and the rod was pulled through the hole in the die.

Next, the rod was passed through the smaller hole to thin the wire until the required diameter was reached. In a similar way, dies were used to make leather cords of the required length and diameter.

Copper and silver wire was used in both simple and composite items, such as chains, nets, threads, rings and barrettes. Like many other peoples, the Udmurts considered metal to be a pure and sacred material, so they used it to make ritual and sacred objects — in particular, noise-making pendants on a chain with images of flora and fauna. It was believed that metal ringing, heard when walking, protected people from evil spirits.

In modern industry, factory drawing benches are used, designed as ancient tools. Draw plates with holes are made of steel, cast iron and industrial diamonds. Drawing is mainly used to produce pipes, fittings and metal wire. There are various methods of drawing: it can be dry and wet, draft and finishing, hot and cold, single and continuous.