Everyone can easily name Khokhloma and Gzhel. But few people know that there are many more types of Russian folk painting. This article will describe the most famous decorating styles.
general information
Art painting is the art of decorating a surface with paints. Painting for a short period of time has become a part of a person's everyday life.
Russian folk painting styles were used to decorate various items. They painted both wood and ceramics and metal. According to this criterion, it can be divided into three groups.
1. The basis is wood. This type of art includes:
- Khokhloma.
- Fedoskinskaya.
- Painting of the Northern Dvina.
- Prikamsk painting.
- Mezenskaya.
- Palekh.
2. The basis is ceramics. This type of art includes:
- Gzhel.
3. The base is the metal that was used to make the trays. It includes:
As you can see, the most popular Russian folk painting on wood. And this is quite understandable.
The most famous types of Russian folk painting will be described below. Among them are Khokhloma, Gzhel, Zhostovo and Gorodets painting.
Khokhloma
The most famous Russian folk painting is Khokhloma. The painting is unique in that, due to special processing in ovens, products do not deteriorate even from hot food. Thus, wood acquires the properties of a ceramic.
History
This Russian folk style goes back to the 17th century in the village of the same name, which was located in the region of Nizhny Novgorod. According to one version, the very idea of the Khokhloma craft was brought up by Old Believers who were fleeing persecution for the "old faith". There were many icon painters among such people. By the beginning of the 18th century, this place became a real artistic treasure.
Currently, Khokhloma has "moved" to the village of Semino and the city of Semyonov. Painting is still being done here, but already on a factory scale.
Elements of Russian folk painting
Red, black and gold are the three primary colors, while yellow and green were used as complementary and in small quantities. The brushes are made from squirrel tails. It is this material that makes it possible to draw a thin line.
Products can be painted in two ways. The first method - first, the background is painted over with completely black paint, and a drawing is applied on top. The second way - first, the outline of the ornament is applied, only after that the background is painted over.
If you carefully look at the various works made in the Khokhloma style, you can distinguish several main patterns:
- Sediments. For this pattern, you need to lightly stroke the tip of the brush from top to bottom.
- Blades of grass. The element looks like a small brush stroke with a gradual thickening.
- Droplets.
- Antennae.
- Curls.
- Bush. Drawn by combinations of sedges, blades of grass, droplets, tendrils and curls. Moreover, the elements were always located symmetrically to each other.
- Berries. Mostly they painted lingonberries, currants, mountain ash, strawberries or gooseberries.
Manufacturing technology
At the very beginning, a wooden base was created. For the most part, these were household items: spoons, bowls, and so on. This basis was called "linen". After drying, the base is covered with specially cleaned clay and left to dry for 7-8 hours. During the drying process, the product is coated with linseed oil several times.
The next step is called "tinning". Aluminum powder is rubbed into the product with a special swab made of sheep's skin. After this procedure, the object acquires shine and is ready for painting.
Gzhel
No less famous Russian folk painting is Gzhel, in which only all kinds of shades of blue on a white background are used to draw patterns.
History
The name of the Russian folk painting Gzhel comes from the Gzhel bush region. This is a union of more than 20 villages in the Moscow region. The first mention of this type of Russian folk painting was in the 14th century during the reign of Ivan Kalita. Initially, Gzhel was colored, but in the 19th century Dutch tiles and Chinese porcelain became fashionable. The products were made in white and blue colors. Soon it became an integral part of the Russian pattern.
Main plots
Birds, roosters or flowers become the central characters of almost all products made in the Gzhel style. The plots of the master of the Russian pattern are taken from their environment. At the same time, the painting itself and the shape of the product do not contradict each other, but form a single whole, complementing each other.
Manufacturing technology
Before painting, the quality of the porcelain was checked. The product was dipped in fuchsin. Thus, the porcelain was painted pink, and the slightest cracks could be seen on it.
As a rule, craftsmen used cobalt-based paint. Before firing the item, it was black. In the work, the master only needed a brush and paint. But using various techniques, more than 20 shades of blue were created.
which was used to decorate metal trays. They exist to this day in the village of Zhostovo, which is located in the Moscow region.
History
The history of Zhostovo painting begins at the beginning of the 19th century in a number of villages in the Trinity Volost. The first masters of painting lacquerware made using the papier-mâché technique appeared here.
The emergence of the familiar is directly related to the Vishnyakov brothers. Thanks to their shop, the production of trays increased. The first things made of metal began to appear. They gradually replaced other papier-mâché crafts.
Main plots
In the Zhostovo painting, the main characters of the works are flowers and floral ornaments. Sometimes they depict scenes of everyday life, landscapes, scenes of festivities, weddings, and so on. But the most common is the image of a bouquet, which is located in the middle of the tray, along the edges of which there is a small gold pattern. Usually there were several rather large flowers in the bouquet, surrounded by a scattering of smaller ones.
Technology
Trays were used for two purposes: for domestic use (as a stand for a samovar or for serving food) and as an element of the interior. The material for making the tray is ordinary sheet metal. The shape of the finished product can be any: round, rectangular oval, etc. Before applying the pattern, the product goes through several important stages:
- Padding.
- Puttying.
- Grinding.
- Varnishing.
This makes the tray surface perfectly flat. Oil paints are used for painting. At the end of the work, the product is covered with several layers of colorless varnish.
The painting itself was carried out in several stages:
- Stage 1. Background. At this stage, the main color is selected. It will be used as a background. Black was preferred, but white, red, blue, etc. could be used.
- Stage 2. Zamalek. At this stage, the basis for the future pattern is made. With diluted paint, the master applies the outlines of the future composition in accordance with his idea. After that, the trays are sent to dry in the oven for several hours.
- Stage 3. Shadowing. At this stage, the master, using translucent paints, applies shadows to the flowers. Thus, making them voluminous.
- Stage 4. Gasket. This is the most crucial stage. Now the master begins to clarify many details, to highlight and implement a contrasting or more harmonious structure of his composition.
- Stage 5. Glare. At this stage, with the help of highlights, light and more volume appear on the flower petals. Glare is needed to create mood and color.
- Stage 6. Drawing. This is the last stage of work on the creation of the bouquet. Using a very thin brush, the artist paints subtle veins on the leaves of the plant, makes a lace edge on the leaves and seeds in the center of the flower.
- Stage 7. Binding. This stage is the penultimate one in the Zhostovo painting. The artist paints the finest stems, blades of grass and tendrils emanating from the bouquet itself. Thus, the master establishes a connection between the bouquet and the background.
- Stage 8. Cleaning. At this stage, the side of the tray is decorated. Usually a geometric or floral pattern is used for this purpose. The style of cleaning depends on the wishes of the master. It can be quite modest and consist of one repeating element, or it can be richly and variedly decorated. If you skip this step, the product will look unfinished.
So you can find endless options for similar motives. But you can never find exact copies or repetitions.
Russian folk Gorodets painting has existed since the middle of the 19th century. Bright and unusual, it served as an adornment for spinning wheels, furniture, shutters and doors.
History
Hints of Gorodets painting can be seen in the carved spinning wheels. In Gorodets, they were unique in that the bottom (the place where the spinner sat) was decorated with the help of a special technique. Wooden figures carved from a different breed were inserted into the recesses. Only two types of wood allowed Gorodets craftsmen to create stunning works of art. Later, a touch-up was added to this.
In the second half of the 19th century, the need for such products increased, which prompted the craftsmen to abandon wood inlay as a complex technique, to switch to simple pictorial elements.
Main plots
Nizhny Novgorod painting is divided into two types: Pavlovsk and Gorodets. They were used to decorate chests, arches, sleighs and so on.
Gorodets Russian folk painting is rich in content. Here you can see a variety of plots. For the most part, these were situations of an everyday nature. At the same time, most of the plot was assigned to floral motifs. You can also meet birds and animals as the main characters of the painting. They can be both stylized and realistic. Typically, the images were symmetrical, with animals or birds looking at each other.
This painting is characterized by the use of underpainting circles, spirals, drops, arcs, staples, strokes and dots. At the same time, the last types of patterns are applied by the artist at the final stage in order to "revive" his work.
There are not so many colors used in the painting: red, green, blue and black. The images are applied to the tree without preliminary drawing. Patterns are applied immediately with a brush, while the master can use both wide and loose strokes, and the finest strokes.
Technology
To create a painting, tempera is used - a paint that is made on the basis of dry pigments in the form of a powder. Moreover, it can be created both from natural materials and from their artificial counterparts. Sometimes they use mixtures of gouache with PVA glue. But it must be borne in mind that when dry, the color becomes whitish. Therefore, before applying the next layer, allow the previous one to dry.
The painting is done immediately on a wooden base. If desired, it is primed with red, yellow or black paint. The future composition can be outlined with a thin line using a simple pencil. But experienced artists tend to skip this step and apply the pattern immediately with a brush.
After the drawing is completely dry, the product is covered with transparent varnish in several layers, each of which is carefully dried. Either oil varnish is used, which is applied with a special swab, or nitro varnish, for which the help of a spray gun is needed. This ensures that the finished product is even and smooth. Such a coating is needed to protect the product from chemical or mechanical damage.
Russian folk painting today
Even in the 21st century, painting does not lose its relevance. Painted items are not just a part of the interior. Many of them have a wide functional load and are actively used in everyday life. For example, cutting food on a decorated cutting board or storing bread in a bread box, which is painted by a master of their craft, are still relevant.
Painted products will add their own flavor even to a modest room, making it unique. But do not overload the apartment with such things, as many of them look very bright. Two or three will be enough.
Also, different types of Russian folk painting are actively used to decorate walls, columns, borders and other interior elements. Such a solution looks great in a children's room or in the kitchen, as it will make the atmosphere brighter and more positive.
Even during the Paleolithic era, mankind learned the art of ornament. Valuable information was put into the repeating pattern. Such an image is capable of evoking associations that are intertwined with each other, helping to understand the full depth of the work.
Ancient Slavic culture in patterns and ornaments
They have absorbed many sacred, magical meanings, have a special energy. The wise men used the signs for sacraments and rituals. With their help, shamans could erase the boundaries between the worlds and travel to the dark or light world, communicate with the gods, pay tribute and respect to the forces of nature. A person who lived in the midst of nature, continuously watched her, transferred her lines to fabric, dishes, household items. Each line was not accidental and endowed with its own meaning. The ornament helped the ancient Slavs to protect their homes, themselves and their families, for this, patterns were applied to window, entrance openings, clothes, towels.
Traditional colors in symbolism
The ornament was applied to clothing with special trepidation, since it protected the wearer from evil spirits. The ritual pattern was applied to vulnerable parts: neck, collar, hem, sleeves.
Red
Most of the embroidery was red, as a symbol of life and love. This color protects living things. Red is also a sign of energy, fire, that is, the sun. He grants a healthy body, warmth, removes any evil eye.
It was not for nothing that ordinary phenomena were endowed with the epithet "red": the red sun, which gives life to all living organisms; spring is red - the personification of the beginning of life; red summer - dawn, life triumphs; the girl is red - a beautiful girl, healthy, full of strength, etc.
Black
In combination with red, it enhanced the protective effect of the ornament. Black is the fertile Mother Earth, this color was assigned the role of protecting a woman from infertility.
The sign embroidered in black zigzag means not a plowed field, it was worn by girls who need to be fertilized. Wavy black lines - a plowed field, ready for the seeds to germinate, that is, for fertilization.
Blue
The blue color protected from bad weather and natural elements. It was used mainly on men's clothing, because it was the man who was often away from home, looking for food or being in the war. Blue water is the sky on earth, its reflection. A blue embroidered ornament on a person's dress tells us that he has embarked on the spiritual path of self-improvement.
Male color, a sign of readiness to protect a woman. If a young man gave a girl a blue embroidered scarf, this meant that he had the most serious intentions, he was ready to protect his chosen one for the rest of his life. An important point: the man must himself tied a gift on the girl's head, thereby confirming his intentions.
Green
The green color was endowed with the power of plants and helped to protect the body from injuries. Symbol of the Forest, youth and rebirth. The Tree of Peace, sown fields and young shoots were depicted in green.
The Slavs had names: - a green garden meant a flourishing life; - the wilderness is green, the same as “beyond the distant lands”, very far away; - green wine had a negative connotation - strong alcoholic intoxication. But, at the same time, this color denoted the space of a stranger, places inhabited by evil spirits.
In the southern area, the Slavs had conspiracies that helped drive out evil spirits on the "green grass", "green tree", "on the green mountain." The mythological heroes also had green body parts: the hair and eyes of the mermaid and the goblin, and the watery body itself was all the color of sea ooze.
White
The dual color is white. It is associated with everything pure, light, holy, but at the same time it was considered mourning. Any other color is combined with this color, therefore white is a symbol of harmony, reconciliation. Also, white light is the space that is intended for human life.
People with pure thoughts and bright thoughts were described as follows: white little hands, white face, white birch tree. Everything that is spiritual, light and kind in the world, everything is reflected in white: - white tablecloths protect guests from evil thoughts; - white sheets protect from death; - white underwear creates a barrier to grief and disease; - a white apron is able to protect female organs from the evil eye.
Slavic symbols and their meaning
Alatyr Another name is the cross of Svarog, an eight-petal star. This is the Eye of Rod. It was applied to the clothes of knowledgeable people, the sign acted as a talisman in a dangerous and long way. The cross unites in itself all svarga, double-headed and triglava and many other sacred symbols, since it is the basis of all that exists.
Bereginya
This symbol has many names: Woman in labor, Mother of the world, Goddess of the house and others. She protects her entire family, family, hearth, children. Beregina was allowed to rule in the sky, in nature, she was responsible for fertility. The female image was embroidered with raised or lowered hands as a sign of amulet and blessing.
The embodiment of the Universe, the center and axis of the world, the personification of the entire Family. Women, so that the family is strong and healthy. In the minds of the Slavs, the place of the World Tree was assigned in the center of the world, in the middle of the ocean on an island of land. Branches stretch to the sky, gods and angels sit in the crown. And the roots go deep underground, into the Underworld, where demonic entities and demons live. Bereginya and the Tree of Knowledge were interchangeable. Often the Goddess of the house was depicted with roots instead of legs - a sign of the earth.
Kolovrat
The well-known sign of the swastika originates from the Slavic peoples (it acquired a negative meaning thanks to Hitler and the Nazi army). Kolovrat, or Solstice, is the most ancient and deeply revered pagan amulet. It was considered the most powerful protective sign, which personifies the unity of the Family, its continuity, the Rotation of everything and everyone. This is how the idea of the Eternal Renaissance was embodied in a significant way.
In the direction of rotation of the swastika (saline / anti-saline), the sun is determined in summer and winter. Striving in the direction of the sun (Reveal) is light, it is a Creative force, a certain symbol of energy control, superiority over existing matter. It is opposed by the left-sided swastika (the Sun of Navi), this is the triumph of everything earthly, the superiority of the material essence and the instinctiveness of things.
Undoubtedly, the most common were symbols that brought happiness. Orepey (or Arepey) is one of them. This name was given to the comb rhombus in the Ryazan region. In other regions, it is known as oak, well, or burdock. The rhombus itself in the Slavic ornamental tradition has many interpretations: agriculture, fertility, it was believed that the sun was also female.
A sign with a dot located in it meant a land planted with seeds. On the dress of a woman in the area of the shoulder, Orepey denoted the World Mountain, Alatyr-stone with a god sitting on it. The gates to another world were embroidered on the hem. Elbow means ancestor. Often the rhombus pattern ended in crosses. So the Slavs believed that they were spreading happiness and goodness on all four sides. The symbol of the sown field brought prosperity, success, wealth to the Slavs, increased vitality, gave a person self-confidence.
Thunderman
The sign of Perun (the god of thunder) was depicted as a cross with six ends, which was inscribed in a hexagon or circle. At first, it could only be used by men and exclusively in a military environment, it was depicted on the weapons and armor of warriors. It was believed that Gromovnik had a detrimental effect on the female energy. Later, the ornament began to be applied to simple clothes and dwellings in order to protect themselves from destructive lightning. Shutters and doorframes were often decorated with this sign.
Makosh
The Heavenly Mother of God is the arbiter of destinies. With her daughters Dolya and Nedolya, she weaves the threads of fate to gods and people. Those who adhere to a righteous lifestyle, honor the saints, know the canons, draw a good lot, and Makosh gives them a share, a good fate. For those people who follow the lead of their desires and selfishness, Nedolya will be the mistress of fate. Makosh patronizes fertility, female occupations of handicraft, on her shoulders the responsibility for the crossroads of the Interworld.
The symbol helps to call on the power of the gods for help, it protects, heals, helps to find harmony and happiness. A noose-like sign is capable of connecting torn, confused and shattered parts into a coherent whole.
Water
Water acted not only as an element, it is knowledge, the beginning of which is in the Interworld. The personification of the Currant-river, which serves as the border between Java and Navu, a river that carries the knowledge of ancient ancestors, oblivion and death. The Ra River is a bright road to God. The milk river in Iria carries knowledge of the highest level and grants immortality.
A strong amulet that personifies the union of two Clans. This ornament was always present on wedding embroidery. The pattern means the eternal spiritual, mental and physical merger of entities: two newlyweds and two Clans. The threads of the Body, Soul, Spirit, Conscience of both Clans are intertwined into a new created Life System.
The strong and weak beginnings in the Svadebnik are indicated by color: masculine - red (fire), feminine - blue (water). The unification of the energies of the two Elements gives rise to a new universal energy and is a manifestation of endless life in time and space.
Ognevitsa
In the culture of the ancient Slavs, Ognevitsa was a strong female amulet. The beneficial effect was only on the mature female body and the formed soul. The presence of this image on the clothes of young girls and girls was not allowed. Ognevitsa effectively acted on married women who gave birth to at least one child. She protected from everything bad, from an accidental word to deliberate evil deeds.
Carrying a sacred meaning, Ognevitsa was embroidered only on clothes, you cannot find it on household items. This symbol is able to ward off any misfortune from a woman, direct her to positive aspirations. In tandem with her, Slavets often appears - a swastika solar symbol that helps to protect women's health. The Slavs knew that Ognevitsa enhances the effect of the energy flows of the protective symbols that are next to her.
Stribozhich
Stribozhich directs his energy of creation to protect against the elements (hurricane, blizzard, storm, drought, and others). The amulet gave immunity to the entire Family and the economy of the Family. The sailors also loved this symbol. They carved signs on sailing ships, and Stribozhich gave them good weather. Farmers and grain growers revered him. Embroidered on work clothes, the pattern called for a cool breeze into the hot afternoon heat. It is believed that the blades of windmills were built in accordance with the arrangement of the petals of the symbol. This made it possible to use wind energy most efficiently.
The Slavs attached great importance to colors. Red blades of the sign - solar energy, activity. The inner space of white color means union with the Universal heaven, the place where energy originates. The outer blue color speaks of sacredness, the highest stage of spiritual development. This wisdom is not given to everyone, it is given only to a select few.
Spiral
The spiral is a sign of wisdom. The blue pattern meant sacred wisdom. The ornament, made in other colors, was a talisman against evil forces and the evil eye. Slavic women loved to embroider spiral images on headdresses.
The spiral itself is the oldest symbol of the Universe, because many galaxies are located according to this principle. And humanity has been developing in an upward spiral since ancient times.
A little more about symbols
It is possible to comprehend all the beauty of the protective Slavic symbols if you study their meanings. Observing patterned embroidery, examining intricate interweaving of ornaments, the eye loses focus, and the picture becomes “holographic”. Attention switches between dark and light characters. Where the dark is everything earthly, and the light is the heavenly world.
Wishing to decipher the meaning inherent in the patterns, it is necessary to take into account the fact that, depending on the location of the protective symbols on the clothes, its interpretation also changes. The Slavs accepted the three-part division of the world: Reality, Nav and the world, where a place is reserved for man. Accordingly: the neck, shoulders are the highest divine light, the hem is the Underworld, the sleeves are the middle human world.
Placing one sign in different worlds, it also acquired different meanings. Male and female, light and darkness, earth and sky, up and down - such opposites ultimately lead to the fact that the process of movement, development occurs continuously and eternally.
The ancient Slavs had to observe the golden mean, keep the two sides of power in balance. Symbols have been created and improved for centuries, they have absorbed special sacred meanings, magic, works of ancestors. These are strong protective amulets, so their beauty and aesthetics should be judged as the last thing. For a very long time, the masters honored the canons according to which the ornament was embroidered, they were in charge of the meaning. But by the beginning of the twentieth century, much was lost.
Modern embroiderers can no longer explain what they embroidered, but somewhere in the distant outbacks ancient patterns still live and delight their admirers. There are still people who consciously wear protective clothing, delving into and comprehending the secrets of the past.
Slavic costume has always been admired by overseas merchants. Clothing skillfully emphasized the external and spiritual beauty. The rhythm of geometric details plays a significant role. To know the truth, to feel harmony and splendor is possible through creativity. However, you shouldn't look at the mysterious ornament on the run. This requires a special mood, spiritual attitude, when a person hears his heart and is ready to follow his call.
In the modern world, an ornament is a pattern that adorns household items without carrying a semantic load. For us, rhombuses on a carpet are just rhombuses, and circles are just circles. But there were times when people knew how to read ornaments, encoded in them their ideas about life, about the other world, about eternal truths.
We can say that the decorative pattern is the result of the found relationship between the perception of nature and the decorative display of reality. Over the many years of the existence of decorative art, various types of patterns have developed: geometric, floral, complex, etc., from simple joints to complex intricacies.
The ornament can consist of objective and non-objective motives, it can include the forms of man, the animal world and mythological creatures, in the ornament naturalistic elements are intertwined and articulated with stylized and geometrized patterns. At certain stages of artistic evolution, there is a "blurring" of the line between ornamental and subject painting. This can be observed in the art of Egypt (Amaran period), the art of Crete, in ancient Roman art, in the late Gothic, Art Nouveau.
First came a geometric ornament, this was at the dawn of human culture. What could be simpler than straight or wavy lines, circles, cells, crosses? It is these motifs that adorn the walls of earthen vessels of primitive people, the most ancient products made of stone, metal, wood and bone. For ancient people, they were conventional signs with which he could express his concept of the world. A straight horizontal line meant earth, a wavy line meant water, a cross meant fire, a rhombus, a circle or a square meant the sun.
According to the old belief, the symbols in the patterns carried spiritual power capable of conjuring any evil and injustice of the elemental forces of nature. These symbolic signs, which came to us from ancient ritual holidays, are with magical symbols. For example, in Filimonov's toy (Russia) we see symbols of the sun, earth, water, fertility. The masters passed through their perception of the world all the images and symbols and showed their perception of the world in the painting. Ancient symbols are also found in Dymkovo and Kargopol toys. But they are different everywhere in the ornament. In every craft, we notice the symbols of the sun, water, etc. A thin thread runs through them the ancient symbolism of the peasant religion.
And the ornament in the Russian folk costume. The main motives of which were solar signs - circles, crosses; images of a female figure - a symbol of fertility, a mother - damp earth; undulating rhythmic lines - signs of water; horizontal straight lines indicating the ground; images of a tree are the personification of eternally living nature. The embroidery on peasant clothes not only adorned it and delighted the surrounding with the charm of the patterns, but also had to protect the one who wore these clothes from harm, from an evil person. A woman embroidered Christmas trees, which means she wished the person a prosperous and happy life, because the spruce is the tree of life and goodness. A child was born to a peasant woman. And she will decorate his first simple shirt with embroidery in the form of a straight line of bright, joyful color. This is a straight and bright road that a child must follow. May this road be happy and joyful for him.
The image of the sun occupies one of the main places in arts and crafts. The sun in the form of round rosettes, rhombuses, can be found in various types of folk art.
A straight, equal-ended cross was also an image of the sun in folk symbolism. The rhombus was revered as a symbol of fertility and was often combined with the sun sign inscribed in it.
The tree of Life
In addition to the geometric one, in the ornament of Ancient Russia, one can very often find various ancient pagan subjects. For example, the female figure personified the goddess of the earth, fertility. In pagan art, the tree of life embodied the power of living nature, it depicted the divine tree, on which the growth of herbs, cereals, trees and the "growth" of man himself depended. Very often you can find plots of magical calendar rituals that are associated with the main stages of agricultural work.
The most diverse symbolism is typical for the images of the plant world, which included flowers, trees, herbs.
In the ornament of Egypt, the decoration often used a lotus flower or lotus petals - an attribute of the goddess Isis, a symbol of the divine productive power of nature, reviving life, high moral purity, chastity, mental and physical health, and in the funeral cult it was considered a magical means of reviving the departed. This flower was personified with the sun, and its petals - with the sun's rays. The lotus motif was widespread in the ornamental forms of the Ancient East (China, Japan, India, etc.).
In the ornament, the Egyptians also used the image of aloe - this drought-resistant plant symbolized life in the other world. Among the trees, date and coconut palms, sycamore trees, acacia, tamarisk, blackthorn, Perseus (Osiris tree), mulberry tree were especially revered - they embodied a life-affirming principle, the idea of an eternally fruitful Tree of Life ..
The laurel in Ancient Greece was dedicated to the god Apollo and served as a symbol of cleansing from sins, since the person to be purified was fanned with a sacred laurel branch. Laurel wreaths were awarded to winners in music and gymnastics competitions in Delphi, the main center of the Apollo cult. The laurel served as a symbol of glory.
Hops is a cultivated plant, the picturesque appearance of which contributed to the widespread use of plant forms in ornamentation. The image of hops combined with ears was used as decoration on household items.
Grapevine - bunches and branches enjoyed special reverence in antiquity and in the Middle Ages. In ancient Greek mythology, this is an attribute of the god Bacchus, for Christians - in conjunction with ears of grain (bread and wine, meaning the sacrament of the sacrament) - a symbol of the suffering of Christ. 
Ivy is an evergreen climbing shrub, sometimes a tree; like a vine was dedicated to Bacchus. Its leaves have a varied shape, most often heart-shaped or with pointed lobes. They were often used in antique art to decorate vases and wine vessels.
Oak is the king of forests, a symbol of strength and power. Oak leaves were widespread in Roman ornamentation. Their images are often found on friezes and capitals, church utensils and other forms of applied Gothic art, as well as in the works of the masters of the Italian Renaissance. Currently, the image of oak leaves along with laurel can be found on medals and coins.
Oak is a symbol of power, endurance, longevity and nobility, as well as glory.
In ancient China, pine symbolizes immortality and longevity. a truly noble personality. The image of a cypress tree echoes the image of a pine, which was endowed in Chinese beliefs with special protective and healing properties, including protection from the dead. Among flowering trees, the wild plum occupies an important place - meihua is a tree a symbol of the New Year, spring and the birth of everything new. Among the flowers, the central place is given to the peony. The peony is associated with female beauty and family happiness. Orchid and chrysanthemum are associated with divine peace and ritual ritual. The most common symbol among vegetables is the gourd gourd, which has become a symbol of immortality and longevity.
Painted gourd-gourd, vessel and talisman (China, XIX century)
"Happy fruits": pomegranate, mandarin orange, symbols of longevity and a successful career.
The sakura motifs are often found in Japanese decorative and applied arts. It is a symbol of beauty, youth, tenderness, inevitable changeability of the passing world.
Flowers are widely used in ornamental motifs of all times and styles. They serve as a decoration for fabrics, wallpaper, tableware and other types of decorative arts.
The rose has polar symbolism: it is heavenly perfection and earthly passion, time and eternity, life and death, fertility and virginity. It is also a symbol of the heart, the center of the universe, the cosmic wheel, divine, romantic and sensual love. Rose - completeness, the mystery of life, its focus, the unknown, beauty, grace, happiness, but also voluptuousness, passion, and in combination with wine - sensuality and seduction. A rosebud is a symbol of virginity; withered rose - the transience of life, death, sorrow; her thorns are pain, blood and martyrdom.
Heraldic roses: 1 - Lancaster; 2 - Yorks; 3 - Tudors; 4 - England (badge); 5 - German rose Rosenov; 6 - Russian stamp.
The heraldic medieval rose has five or ten petals, which associates it with the Pythagorean pentad and decade. The rose with red petals and white stamens is the emblem of England, the most famous badge of the English kings. After the "War of the Scarlet and White Roses", named after the badges of the surnames that fought for the English crown, the scarlet rose of Lancaster and the white Yorkie were combined in the form of the "Rose of the Tudors". The bright crimson rose is the unofficial emblem of Bulgaria. The famous tea rose is the emblem of Beijing. Nine white roses are in the coat of arms of Finland.
In ancient ornaments, along with plants, various animals are often depicted: birds, horses, deer, wolves, unicorns, lions. They form the horizontal structure of the tree of life: at the top are birds; at the level of the trunk - people, animals, and also bees; under the roots - snakes, frogs, mice, fish, beavers, otters.
Animals can be seen on embroidered towels and aprons ,
on the painted chest NS, on carved and painted spinning wheels; on the walls of ancient Russian cathedrals and in the decorations of huts ,
in the ornaments of the drop caps. Ancient images of a horse and a bird have been preserved in folk toys and dishes. Tops for horse lashes and combat bows were carved in the form of animal or bird heads. Stylized animals and birds adorned hair combs, utensils and dishes. In ancient times, many natural phenomena were personified in the images of animals, and each looked at these phenomena from the point of view that was closer to him, depending on the way of life and occupation: the point of view of the shepherd was different from the views of the hunter, and both of them from the warrior. People transferred their knowledge about terrestrial animals to atmospheric phenomena.
A bird in folk arts and crafts could personify wind, cloud, lightning, thunderstorm, storm and sunlight. Ladles and salt shakers were carved in the form of birds, embroidered birds adorned women's clothing .
The image of a bird is widely included in the folklore of almost all peoples of the world.
The horse also personified all natural phenomena associated with rapid movement - wind, storm, clouds. He was often depicted as fire-breathing, with a clear sun or moon in his forehead, and golden-maned. The wooden horse, made for children's play, was often all decorated with solar signs or flowers. .
It was believed that this protects the child from evil forces. Images of horses can often be seen on household items (bucket handles, spinning wheels ,
spindles), on clothes .
In the northern regions, natural phenomena associated with horses were also attributed by ancient people to deer. .
Deer were often depicted near the tree of life on an embroidered towel, sometimes they were placed instead of a ridge on the roof of a hut. The sacred role of a horse, a deer in Scythian art is often associated with the hope of a successful ascension of the soul into another world.
The lion in the mythology of many peoples was a symbol of the sun and fire, and also at different times among different peoples, he personified higher forces, power, power and greatness, generosity, nobility, intelligence. The image of a lion has existed since ancient times in arts and crafts.
For many centuries, the lion remained one of the favorite figures in Russian symbolism. In ancient Russian images associated with the grand ducal power, the image of a lion, depending on what surrounded it, had two meanings: the power bestowed by God and the defeated power of evil.
Folk craftsmen often carved lions on the frontal board of a hut or painted on chests surrounded by floral ornaments, the craftswomen embroidered them.
Feminine principle. The Great Mother in the terrible guise of the weaver of fate is sometimes depicted as a spider. All moon goddesses are the spinners and weavers of fate. The web, which the spider weaves, weaves from the center in a spiral, is a symbol of the creative forces of the Universe, a symbol of the universe. The spider in the center of the web symbolizes the center of the world; The sun is surrounded by rays; The moon, personifying the cycles of life and death, spinning the web of time. The spider is often associated with luck, wealth, or rain. Killing a spider is a bad omen.
The spider depicted on the amulet of the American Indian
Due to the stability of religious canons, the meaning of symbols in the ornamentation of Egypt, the art of the countries of the Ancient East remained unchanged for many millennia. Therefore, for ethnographers and archaeologists, ancient ornaments are signs with which you can "read" a kind of magical texts.
Ethnocultural contacts, trade, military campaigns, religious missions, ambassadors' gifts and invited artists facilitated the movement of works of art from one country to another, which led to the spread of artistic ideas and styles.
Often, subsequent generations of artists use the previous art and create their own variations on its basis. Such a striking example is the swastika element, one of the earliest symbols that is found in the ornaments of almost all peoples of Europe, Asia, America, etc. The oldest images of the swastika are found already in the culture of the Tripillya tribes of the 5th-4th millennia BC. NS. In ancient and medieval cultures, the swastika is a solar symbol, a lucky sign, with which ideas of fertility, generosity, well-being, movement and the power of the sun are associated.
Kolovrat or Solstice is one of the oldest ancient Russian symbols, personifying the Sun and the solar gods of Svarog, Dazhdbog and Yarila. The name of the symbol originated from the word "colo" - the sun.
The symbol itself looks like a circle with curved rays, so many people associate it with the fascist swastika. Although this is fundamentally not the case: the Nazis really used this solar symbol, but not vice versa. 
In 1852, the French scientist Eugene Burnouf first gave the four-pointed cross with curved ends the Sanskrit name "swastika", which roughly means "carrying good." Buddhism made the swastika its symbol, giving it the mystical meaning of the eternal rotation of the world.
Modern symbolism is practically absent in the ornaments of the new time, despite the fact that it exists in abundance in the surrounding reality. As an exception, there may be the work of modernist artists. At the end of the XIX - beginning of the XX century. these artists tried to create their own symbolism and reproduce it in their work.
The ornament in their works no longer played an auxiliary role, but became an integral part of the image, organically woven into the canvas of the plot.
At the same time, A. Bely, the theorist of Russian Symbolism, wrote: “The Symbolist artist, saturating the image with experience, translates it into his work; such a transformed (modified) image is a symbol ”. And further A. Bely fixes the main slogans of symbolism in art: “1. the symbol always reflects reality; 2. a symbol is an image modified by experience; 3. the form of the artistic image is inseparable from the content. "
In these three points, the famous poet and prose writer accurately formulated the main provisions for creating a symbolic work that can be used in any form of art, including ornamental.
Cross of Lada-Virgin- A symbol of Love, Harmony and Happiness in the family, the people called him Ladinets. As a talisman, it was worn mainly by girls in order to have protection from the "evil eye". And so that the power of the Ladinets was constant, he was inscribed in the Great Kolo (Circle).
Ladinets, he is also the Harmony of the Feminine - the female Amulet, leading to harmony of the feminine essence. Calmness and joy in your soul are immediately reflected in your appearance - you become more beautiful and attractive, and most importantly - healthier.
The amulet gives peace, joy and self-awareness as a Woman.
The red ray remains unchanged in any case, the color of the second ray changes depending on the sign of the zodiac.
Fire - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius,
Water - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces,
Earth - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn,
Air - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
For the elements of the Earth - the classic black color (many embroider dark green).
For the element of Fire, black is also used (many embroider dark brown).
For the element of Air - blue.
For the element of Water - blue or turquoise.
Ladinets are usually embroidered in combination with roses.
A girl, a woman who was presented with the Ladinets charm or the Harmony of the Feminine Principle must, after receiving the gift, wear a skirt and dresses for 40 days !!! Even at home you need to wear robes or sundresses, in trousers, shorts, etc. it is forbidden! This also applies to your beloved !!! It is very important!
Ladinets is also a popular and simplified name for the "Kolo - Ladnik" amulet.
Ladinets is a couple to Kolyadnik (Rodovich). Together, they personify the feminine (Ladinets) and masculine (Kolyadnik) beginnings, and represent the heavenly family.
The Slavs called the Goddess Lada the great Goddess Mother, or the Woman in Childbirth. It is Kolo (circle, feminine principle) and 8 elements (symbol of infinity) that emphasize the feminine character of the amulet, harmony and embodiment in eternity of all living and being.
Kolo-Ladnik or Ladinets can be seen paired with Kolyadnik inside the family house - these are symbols of the giving and receiving principle, they personify the unity of man and woman, and are twisted in a whirlwind of solar movement, which is embodied in 2 amulets.
Ladinets are given to a woman, regardless of her marital status. If Ladinets is worn by an unmarried girl, a girl, he reveals in her femininity, feminine qualities and character traits. Ladinets will help a married woman give birth to healthy children, promote family well-being, keep Peace, Ladin and Harmony in the house.
The Cross of the Lada of the Virgin (Ladinets) is a Symbol of Love, Harmony and Happiness in the family. This amulet was worn mainly by girls in order to have protection from the "evil eye". In order for the strength and power of the Ladinets to be constant, the amulet was inscribed in the Great Kolo (Circle).
If there is a Ladinets charm in the house, Trouble will never befall him. The traditional colors for this pattern are blue and emerald green.
When to embroider: 10, 14 lunar days.
Russian culture originated many centuries ago. Even in pagan times, the Russians decorated themselves and the space for life (house, yard, household items) with original patterns. If a drawing repeats and alternates individual details, it is called an ornament.
Folk ornament necessarily uses traditional motives. Each nation has its own. Russian ornaments are no exception. When we hear this phrase, embroidered shirts and towels immediately appear in our imaginations. They have horses, ducks, roosters and geometric shapes.
Traditional Russian ornament
An excursion into history
The primary unit of society is the family. And it is to families that we owe the first folk patterns. In ancient times, animals and plants had a totemic meaning. Each family believed that it had one or another patron. For generations, family members have used objects with symbols of a kind, considering them to be protection and help.
Gradually, the family drawing went beyond the family and became the property of relatives. Several genera exchanged their designs. Thus, already the entire tribe used symbols that originally belonged to certain families.
Over time, the patterns became more, the circle of their users expanded. This is how Russian folk ornaments appeared in Russia.
Even in the exterior of the houses, symbolism was traced. You will notice that different colors were used for needlework in different areas. There is a simple explanation for this. In the old days, only natural dyes were used. They were produced in an artisanal way. So, the availability of raw materials for paints often determined the entire palette of works.
Different regions had their own favorite "decorations". It is no coincidence that "paisley" is one of the motives for the ornaments of the eastern regions. Homeland of "Indian cucumber" Persia in the east.
Meaning and meaning
A creative fusion of nature and religion. So briefly, you can describe national, including Russian, ornaments. In other words, an ornament is a symbolic description of the world.
Ornamental elements were not only decoration. They carried a semantic and ritual load. They can not only be viewed, but also read. Very often these are conspiracies and amulets.
Each symbol has a specific meaning:
- Alatyr is perhaps the main of the Russian and Slavic signs. It is a symbol of the infinite universe, the duality of the world and its balance. The source of life, consisting of masculine and feminine principles. The eight-pointed Star of Alatyr and the Stone of Alatyr were often used in patterns. They were expected to help in different life situations.
Sacred Alatyr - Another symbol that was very revered and often used in patterns is the World Tree of Life (or the Tree of Reign). It was believed that it grows on the Alatyr Stone and the gods rest under its crown. So people tried to protect themselves and their family under the branches of the Tree of Life and with the help of the celestials.
One of the variants of the image of the Tree of Reign - Various swastikas are also a popular motif in Russian and Slavic handicrafts. Of the swastikas, Kolovrat can be found more often than others. An ancient symbol of the sun, happiness and goodness.
Variants of the image of the symbol of the sun among the Slavs - Orepey or Arepey is a rhombus with combs on the sides. His other names are: Comb rhombus, Oak, Well, Burdock. It was considered a symbol of happiness, wealth, self-confidence. When located on different parts of clothing, it had a different interpretation.
Orepey symbol - Animals and plants that surrounded people and were deified by them are a constant theme of patterns.
Slavic symbolism is very diverse Of particular importance was the number of alternations of elements in the ornament. Each number carried an additional semantic load.
Beauty and protection
The aesthetic meaning of the ornaments was combined with the totem one. Magi and shamans applied symbols to ritual clothing and utensils. Ordinary people also put a special meaning in traditional drawings. They tried to protect themselves with amulet embroidery, applying it to certain parts of their clothing (to protect the body). Table linen, household items, furniture, parts of buildings were also decorated with appropriate patterns (to protect the family and home).
The simplicity and beauty of ancient ornaments keep them popular today.
Amulets were decorated with traditional ornament Trades and crafts
Gradually, with the development of civilization, ancient patterns were transformed, some of them became identification marks of certain folk crafts. They have become independent crafts. Usually, crafts have a name corresponding to the area where they are produced.
The most popular are:
- Porcelain and ceramics "Gzhel". Her style is a characteristic blue paint on a white background. Named after the settlement of Gzhel, Moscow region, where the production is located.
Gzhel painting - an old craft - "Zhostovo painting" can be recognized by flower bouquets on a black (less often green, blue, red) metal tray covered with varnish. The fishing center is located in Zhostovo (Moscow region). The beginning of this craft was laid in Nizhny Tagil, where the production of Nizhny Tagil trays still exists.
Luxurious Zhostovo painting - "Khokhloma" is a decorative painting on wood. It is characterized by black, red and sometimes green patterns on a golden background. Her homeland and place of registration is the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Khokhloma is popular today - Sloboda Dymkovo is the birthplace of Dymkovo, and the city of Kargopol, respectively, Kargopolskaya, the village of Filimonovo Filimonovskaya, Stary Oskol, Starooskolskaya clay toys. They all have a characteristic pattern and color.
Stary Oskol clay toys - Pavlovsky Posad wool shawls are the visiting card of Pavlovsky Posad. They are characterized by a volumetric printed floral pattern. Red and black are their traditional colors.
Traditional Pavloposad shawl is a truly luxurious accessory Continuation can be very long: Fedoskinskaya and Palekhskaya miniatures, Gorodets painting, Orenburg downy shawl, Vologda, Yeletskoye, Mtsenskoye lace. Etc. It is very difficult to list everything.
We draw in folk style
Today many people wear clothes and things in folklore style. Many craftswomen want to create something unique themselves. They can take the finished product rapport as a basis or create their own sketch.
To successfully complete this idea, you first need to:
- Decide whether it will be a separate pattern or ornament.
- Decompose the drawing into simple details.
- Take graph paper, make markings, marking each fragment and its middle.
- Draw the first elementary detail in the center.
- Gradually, step by step, add the following fragments.
And now a unique pattern is ready.
Anyone can draw a similar pattern. About Russian embroidery
Patterns, techniques, colors of Russian embroidery are very diverse. The art of embroidery has a long history. It is closely related to the way of life, customs and rituals.
Color is an important component of needlework.
People endowed him with sacred properties:
- Red is the color of life, fire and sun. Of course, it was often used when embroidering. After all, it is also beauty. As a talisman, he was called upon to protect life.
- White is the color of pure snow. A symbol of freedom and purity. He was considered a protector from the dark forces.
- Blue color of water and clear sky. Symbolized courage and strength.
- Black in the ornament meant earth. Zigzag and wave, respectively, not plowed and plowed field.
- Green is grass, forest and their help to man.
Traditional Russian embroidery The thread was also endowed with certain qualities:
- Linen is a symbol of masculinity.
- Wool is protection, patronage.
In combination with patterns, special-purpose products were created.
For example:
- Roosters and red horses were supposed to protect the baby.
- For the successful completion of the work, they embroidered with green and blue linen.
- They embroidered with wool for diseases and against bad influences.
- For women, things were often embroidered in black to protect motherhood.
- The men were protected with green and blue patterns.
Of course, a special set of symbols and drawings was developed for each case and person.
This embroidery will look elegant on any fabric. Folk costume
Folk costume embodies and reflects tradition. For centuries, craftswomen have transformed a nondescript fabric into a unique work of art. From an early age, girls learned the secrets of needlework. By the age of fifteen, they had to prepare for themselves casual and party clothes and a set of towels, tablecloths and valances for several years.
The cut of the suit itself is simple, rectangular. Linen or woolen fabric of various qualities. The women pulled on the fabric (some of the threads were removed) and received new fabric. Hemstitching and other embroidery were performed on it.
Russian folk costume is diverse Of course, the clothes differed in characteristic patterns depending on the locality. It can be divided into two groups:
- Central Russian. Differs in multicolor. Of the techniques, counting smoothness, cross, braids, hemstitching are often found. In the southern regions, lace, ribbons or strips of fabric are also used to decorate clothes. The pattern is often geometric. Orepey was especially loved in different versions.
- North. For her, the characteristic techniques are satin stitch (colored and white), cross, painting, white stitching and cutouts. Artistic motives were used more often than geometric ones. The compositions were performed mainly in one color.
Russian embroidery is unique. It features stylized images of animals and plants, as well as a wide variety of geometric patterns.
Keeping traditions
Exploring national traditions and handicraft techniques for preserved products, modern craftsmen adapt them to modern requirements. On their basis, fashionable original things are created. These are clothes, shoes, underwear.
Valentin Yudashkin is one of the recognized fashion designers who includes folk motives in each of his collections. Foreign couturiers, such as Yves Saint Laurent, are also inspired by the Russian heritage.
Russian collection Yves Saint Laurent In addition, folk crafts continue traditions and improve craftsmanship in accordance with modern requirements. You can add enthusiasts who are not indifferent to traditional creativity. They independently study, collect and create in the folk style.
Russian patterns continue to bring beauty and joy to people, and also preserve historical information.
