Crafts of ancient Russia

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

Craftsmanship: Planting with pearls on white

Planting with pearls on white is a unique and beautiful type of Russian embroidery, known from the finds of the century since the 11th. But this art was especially widespread in Russia in the 15-17th centuries, when a noticeable "Tatar" (actually Tartar) influence appeared in the costumes of the Russian nobility. The frames of icons and church utensils, book covers, ceremonial and festive clothes of secular and clergymen, accessories, shoes, hats … in general, everything that can be decorated with embroidery was embroidered with pearls and semi-precious stones. Pearls were mined in northern rivers from pearl shells. The shells themselves were also used - they made chopped mother-of-pearl down to girls' and women's headdresses; it was also used in embroidery.

"Linen" is a flooring made of cotton or linen (usually white) threads, which is used in this type of embroidery. Sitting on white is a multi-stage and rather time-consuming type of embroidery. But in finished form, embroidered products look very rich and luxurious. especially when the embroidery is made from natural materials.

Craftsmanship: Arkhangelsk roe. Gingerbread painting

Goats or goats are figurines made of dough, decorated and baked. The name of the goat is not derived from the word goat or roe deer, but from the Pomor word meaning "curl", "snake".

Kozuli were originally a national delicacy of the Pomors (residents of the Arkhangelsk province), who made them only for Christmas. Currently, roe deer is made in the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions, as well as in the Urals. Cossul is also considered to be a type of gingerbread. Also, roes made by children are used as toys.

Content:

- the history of gingerbread in Russia to the present day, - preparation of dough (traditional recipe, from 14 minutes), - glaze preparation at 21 minutes; traditional Arkhangelsk recipe, with syrup.

Please note that it is recommended to use 1st and 2nd grade flour for making the dough. The usual premium flour should not be used at all!

Craftsmanship: Bogorodskaya carving

In the village of Bogorodskoye, not far from Sergiev Posad, woodcarving craftsmen, continuers of the glorious traditions of Russian artisans, live and work. Bogorodsk carving appeared as a craft in the 16th century.

The peasant made toys for his children, for other people's children, and there, you see, he began to sell slowly. The neighbors in the village, seeing such a thing, began to engage in profitable fishing themselves, and off we go. Over time, not a single family remained in the village where they would not have been carved out of wood. Characters that the craftsmen took as prototypes for their toys have surrounded them since childhood. Shepherd, woodcutter, peasant with a cow, mower. Later, artisans, ladies and hussars, landowners and officials appeared in the works of the Bogorodians.

If ordinary people in the works of Bogorodsk craftsmen were portrayed, as a rule, with love and warmth, then in the figures of ladies and hussars one can almost always notice subtle humor and irony. A characteristic feature of the Bogorodsk toy is that all the characters are depicted in motion, in the action inherent in this character. If it is a woodcutter, then he waves an ax, if it is a hussar, then he pranks on a horse.

Continuation: Crafts of ancient Russia. Part 2