Decorated Shawls and Scarves

Today I want to continue my story about my visit to the 'Scarves and Shawls' exhibition at the State Russian Museum and show you the exhibits of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Square scarf with embroidered sunflowers and leaves. Gold and silver threads.

In the 19th century, square scarves appeared the fabric was tightly covered with a flower pattern of brocade, silver or gold threads. A border and fringe arose on the edges of the shawl or scarf.

Square scarf with embroidered dahlias. Silver threads.

Square scarf with embroidered vine and grapes. Gold threads

Embroidered square kerchief with colorful pattern.

At the middle of the 19th century in Saratov in the estate of a landowner serf lace-maids worked. Lace scarves and shawls were decorated with rich flower ornaments, each of them had its own composition, color, the thinnest pattern.

At the beginning of the 20th century shawls of delicate goat down were knitted in the workshops. Such work required high skill and subtle artistic taste. To show the fineness of a knitted shawl, it was threaded into a ring.

At the same time woven shawls and scarves appeared, the pattern of woven flowers or petals sought to convey the charm of flowers.

The last scarf that I show has a pattern of St. Petersburg's stock exchange building. Now in the 21st century, it would probably be a beautiful souvenir for tourists and visitors of the city.

 Click to enlarge photos.

My video 'Shawls and Scarves'  - the song 'I've lost my ring':

Thornless Gooseberry Bushes

I love gooseberries but I hate getting scratched by thorns. My 3 gooseberry bushes have long and sharp thorns. My plans on this spring were to find in Garden center catalogs such bushes:
1. No thorns!
2. Pest resistance 
3. Tolerant to mildew
I don't want no longer have to be extra careful when picking berries. I'd also like to choose the varieties that don't need to be sprayed with insecticides, to grow gooseberries the healthy way - no spraying, to know that my berries are completely safe and organically-grown. My wish was to only plant gooseberry, then pick berries, large numbers of sweet, delicious berries.

Well, I'm happy now because I have chosen highly adaptable gooseberry bush grown in St. Petersburg area conditions. It's the Pavlovsk' nursery, where selectors have bred thornless bushes. I liked the variety 'Serafim' that combines the thornless, high winter hardiness and resistance to powdery mildew, good productivity.

As the author of bred gooseberry writes 'Serafim variety is characterized by an average ripening period, berries are medium, red, with dessert taste. A great advantage of this variety is practically bare shoots. Single small spikes are found only in the lower part of the shoot'. 
I will order two gooseberry bushes 'Serafim' in March, as the nursery recommends. I hope they come safely to me.
 
Do you have any berry bushes in your garden? Have you a problem with thorn branches?
Photos - Internet

Flowers Decorate Shawls

Recently I've been to a new exhibition “Shawls and Scarves” at the State Russian Museum, St. Petersburg. I did not expect that I would be so impressed by exhibits there. Well, I will tell and show you the most interesting things there.

Square scarf 'Reps' 19th century

 Throw, lace, 19th century

For the first time a unique assortment of ancient and modern Russian textiles is presented in State Russian museum, St. Petersburg. The shawls, throws and kerchiefs are shown as parts of old traditional costumes. In 18 century in the northern city of Kargopol gold embroidery on white thin linen shawls and scarves was developed. They were part of the elegant costume of northern women. Gold threads are attached to the fabric with silk threads, that have a clear pattern on sewing.

Female festive costumes, late 19th century

Fragment of embroidered shawl of a bride, silk, gold


Fragment of embroidered kerchief, silk

As a rule, the corner of a kerchief was decorated with large embroidery, a kerchief was fixed under the chin, leaving free corners on shoulders. In the years 1860-80, the most elegant kerchiefs with rich ornamentation appeared.

 The kerchief, gold threads, fabric, Kargopol, 19 century  

 Triangular kerchief, gold threads, fabric, Kargopol, 19 century

 The kerchief, gold threads, Kargopol, 19 century

Attending church, celebration, harvesting – all these required the proper type of feminine head covering.  In 18-19th centuries fashionable costume of a lady or merchant’s wife was incomplete without a flower-patterned shawl or kerchief.

 Merchant's wife in a festive costume, Toropets, 19th century

Fragment of embroidered headscarf, gold, silver threads, silk

Part of embroidered kerchief, silk

 Fragment of embroidered kerchief, silver threads, silk

Fragment of embroidered shawl, silver threads, silk

Makers of scarves and shawls imported new textile and technology to Russia in 18 century. The art of silk weaving from Middle East influenced the textile manufacturing in towns of Kolomna, Vladimir, Toropets, Bogoevlensk.  

  Embroidered bride's shawl, silk

Fragment of embroidered bride's throw, silk

At the beginning of the 19th century, a square scarf appeared, a pattern woven with gold and silver thread replaced the oriental patterns, and a border appeared at the edges. Manufactures in the cities of Zuev, Shchelkovo, Kolomna produced scarves with complex patterns. Brocade kerchiefs and shawls were part of the ceremonial women's attire in the merchants and among wealthy peasants.

Throw, silver threads, 19th century

Fragment of the throw

The evolution of this manufacture from the time of Catherine the Great to elegant modern shawls, throws and kerchiefs is due to the development of the textile industry in the country.

Next post I'll continue showing you beautiful things. 

Click to enlarge photos.