Window frames as a symbol of protection in Russian architecture

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

It just so happened that it was the village huts that were, are and will be the bearers and keepers of the authentic culture of the Russian people. Moreover, each element of the facade can tell a knowledgeable person almost everything about the area, as well as about the predilections and fears of the owner of the hut. The carved window decorations, which received special attention, turned out to be especially informative, because the people considered them not just an "eye", the main sensory organ of the dwelling itself, but also an effective guardian of the family hearth.

By the window frames, you can determine where you are and what the people were most afraid of.

The tradition of decorating a window opening came to Russia in the 17th century from Italy after the opening of the first glass factory. Only in a European country, this part of the house was decorated with small columns, porticoes and other elements made of stone, and in our territory it was replaced with wood, because only a few could afford stone houses and, accordingly, all the decor.

The shutters were protected from the sun, and in the north they were closed on a summer polar day to sleep, and in the south - so that the house would not heat up. forumhouse.ru/ © Ivan Khafizov.

Initially, when installing the platbands, a practical function was pursued - to close the connecting seams between the window frame and the frame. But it was not interesting to simply install a piece of the board, so the craftsmen began to decorate this element with fancy patterns that had their own meaning in each locality.

Window frames up to the 17th century had the simplest drawing symbolizing the sun. bigpicture.ru.

Remarkable:The term "platband" in different regions sounds differently, for example, in most regions of Central Russia it is a "cashier", in the area bordering Belarus, it is known only as "too much", and in the Urals - "belendryas" or " little window ".

Circles and rhombuses depicting a heavenly body mean protection from darkness and night evil. progorodsamara.ru.

As the authors of Novate. Ru managed to find out, the technique of making carved platbands does not have clearly defined canons, the only predetermining rule is axial symmetry - this is when the left side of the composition mirrors the right side.

The lower part of the platband (called the window sill) is less decorated and symbolizes the mother earth and the fertility of the field. bigpicture.ru.

There is also a common feature of platbands, which is inherent in the entire territory of Russia - the upper part has a more openwork pattern, and the lower one is simpler and more modest. In all other respects, only the handwriting of the master and the preferences in the design of the inhabitants of the region themselves and the particular owner in particular are determined.

The "expensive-rich" style is inherent for small merchants, who thus tried to raise their importance. courier-media.com.

Interesting fact: It is believed that the most exquisite and rich carvings adorn the estates of wealthy owners. But as it turned out, this is a delusion, because representatives of high society do not need to show or prove their importance and high status in this way, they are already known and respected by everyone. But those who suddenly became rich, the people call them "from rags to riches," they tried to raise their prestige with lush decoration and loudly declare themselves successful.

Sometimes the roof of the platband was decorated with semicircles, which symbolize the heavenly goddesses "women in labor". progorodsamara.ru.

Naturally, the carved platband performed not only a practical and aesthetic function, it played the role of a powerful amulet against the evil eye, encroachments on the house of dashing people and evil spirits. Despite the fact that Christianity was preached in Russia, all folk traditions are pagan, so the main symbols decorating the house were - the sky god Svarog and the sun god Dazhbog. They also did not forget about the role of mother earth - the progenitor of all blessings.

The curls around the central circle not only decorate, but represent the continuous movement of the Luminary. progorodsamara.ru.

Since, according to popular beliefs, all parts of the platband corresponded to the cardinal points and seasons, the location of each symbol was thought out to the smallest detail, while special attention was paid to the combination with each other. So, for example, the symbol of earth and fertility would never have been placed on the upper part, called the pommel or kokoshnik, the sun sign dominates there, because the image of the star or its conventional sign (as a rule, it is a rhombus or a symbolic drawing in which the sun was clearly guessed).

In the Yaroslavl, Ivanovo, Moscow, Rostov regions, snakes and dragons were depicted on the architraves, which were also considered a talisman. forumhouse.ru/ © Ivan Khafizov.

An ornate carved drawing was made not only in order to protect their homes from various troubles and misfortunes, but also to wish a happy life to the owners of this house and their descendants, because if the frame is properly installed, it will serve faithfully for more than a hundred years.

In the old days, the house was protected not only with shutters and doors, but also with the help of various "benevolent" signs - amulets. houzz.ru.

According to knowledgeable people, by the patterns of the platbands in the old days, the traveling people unerringly determined where they were. Moreover, it was not the territory as such that played a dominant role, but local customs and, of course, the master who made carved elements for the entire area. Just as the famous Gzhel or Gorodets painting was determined by the artist's hand, so wooden architecture begins with a carver.

Ivan Khafizov took about 18 thousand photographs and created the “Virtual Museum of Carved Platbands”. forumhouse.ru.

Even now, you can learn to accurately determine in which region the platband is made, for this it will be enough to know a few characteristic features. According to photographer Ivan Khafizov, who for over 11 years has been photographing platbands throughout the country and in his collection there are already more than 18 thousand pictures from 364 settlements: “In order to understand the platbands, you just need to look at a few collages … So, even a child will be able to tell how the Ryazan platbands differ from, for example, Kostroma or Tomsk ones."

Carved ornaments and various figures were designed to protect the family hearth from adversity. moydom.media/ © Ivan Khafizov.

Woodcarving imitates the Baroque style in the house of a Vologda merchant. forumhouse.ru. / © Ivan Khafizov.

Thanks to his works, now we will be able to navigate the amazing world of symbols and signs with which skillful woodcarvers have decorated the houses of the country's inhabitants for many centuries in a row.

Two-color Transbaikalian platbands (Chita, 17th century). nalichniki.com./ © Ivan Khafizov.

Despite the fact that the street is XXI century, trims are still popular in some regions of the country. The only thing is that no one agrees with modern carved elements with beliefs, and they apply them without a deep understanding of the importance for the existence of a home and family, they simply create a beautiful combination of geometric shapes and floral elements.

Modern platbands are distinguished by high aesthetics, but they do not carry a semantic load. pinterest.com.

Most of us, looking at the magnificent creation of architects, think that we see primordially Russian folk art, but this is not so. As it turned out, all the incredibly beautiful images that we still remember from illustrated fairy tales (which is only a hut on the chicken legs of Baba Yaga!) Were borrowed by our ancestors from Norwegian architects. And this is proved by the ancient fabulous buildings, which are not easy survived on the territory of Norway to this day, but still function.