Artelli (Artell)

‘Artel’, direct transcription of Russ. арте́ль, a workers’ guild or association, general term for various semi-formal cooperative associations in Russia and its sphere of influence from 1860ish to 1960ish, pretty much dead nowadays, despite its use in business names à la Hansa. Activities ranged from fishing and art, to stevedoring and thieving. Etymology very uncertain: Italian artiere, artisan has been suggested, but probably fortuitous. Vasmer seems to prefer either Tuvan урталай (urtalai), or Kipchak (Tatar or Bashkir) арт ил (art il), people in the rear, or reserve, but given the scope of its own cultural/historical significance, its etymology is nugatory anyway.