Preili Museum of History and Applied Arts (Latvia), Grodno State Museum of the History of Religion (Belarus) and Panevezys Local Lore Museum (Lithuania) joint virtual exhibition – traditional woodwork. Preili Museum of History and Applied Arts Dowry chest. The end of 19th century – beginning of 20th century At the end of the 19th century – the beginning of the 20th century, typical furniture for storing various objects and clothes in Latgale, was a dowry chest or skreine. In Latgale, such dowry chests were usually painted in green or blue, decorating them with a variegated stamps creating a floral theme. In addition, the dowry chests were supplemented with thin, smooth black-painted metal strips, especially treating chests body, corners and cover. Presumably in this way, the chest was given additional stability, making it more transport-friendly, because not only did the daughters of Latgale farmers have to move to nearby villages after marriage, often the whole family had to take the wheels, in search of higher profits. Wooden bucket. The end of 19th century – beginning of 20th century Until the middle of the 20th century, wood was by far the most common material in the household of a Latgale farmer. It was widely available, easily replaceable and very adaptable when making something new. Also, there was no shortage of craftsmen, as woodworking skills were passed down from father to son for many generations. Not only household furniture was made of wood, but also everyday objects, such as wooden buckets. To make them, each household had templates for specific bucket size. At the beginning, the wood was processed by cutting out wooden planks of the required size and shape, then they were adjusted to each other, the bottom of the bucket was fixed and the body was tightened with a wooden hoop. As the wood got wet, buckets of this type could safely be used to carry and store a wide variety of liquids. In the middle of 20th century, bucket of the museum’s collection, was tightened with metal wire, replacing original wooden hoops and handle to further use. Decorative window elements. The first half of the 20th century. Until the first half of the 20th century, when electricity was rare thing in many country houses, the window was the main light source in the room. Therefore, the windows of the houses were specially decorated, pointing out their great value in the daily rhythm of the farmers life, when all the works were started and finished in the daylight. Decorative window elements were made by wood craftsmen, here in the Preili side, they were craftsmen from local Old Believers’ villages who visited the houses with whom in the previous summer were made an agreement or offered their craft skills for work in the following year. The decorative window elements were made up from 3 parts – the upper part (window crown, profiled cornice and front board), the middle part with side boards and the window sill in the bottom of the window. Various geometric ornaments and natural motives were used in the production of those elements – birds, stars, plant windings, etc. The wealthiest household also installed decorated window shutters, symbolically closing them after sunset, further emphasizing the great connection of man with the rhythms of nature. Hrodna State Museum of the History of Religion The museum collection “Wood” of the Grodno State Museum of the History of Religion numbers more than 650 items. It has its origin in 1974 It includes sculptures of the 16th-20th centuries (Catholic saints, angels, crucifixes), decorative carvings from the interiors of Catholic and Orthodox churches, small sculptures (animals, mythical creatures, fairy-tale characters), ethnographic and household items (baking dishes for Easter cakes, kitchen utensils, spoons, storage chests, spinning wheels, shuttles, spindles, furniture, decorative works, etc.), which have not only a utilitarian, but also a ritual purpose and are necessary for displaying the calendar and family rituals of Belarusians. The collection also includes sculptures of Eastern religions. The most valuable museum items in the museum collection are the monuments of the Catholic Church. In Belarus, it was typically made of wood. Wood is not a very durable material,therefore every item that has not been affected by time, war and fire and which has survived to our time is the greatest value for the art of Belarus, a role model for modern masters. Saint Casimir. Belarus. 1630s. Wood carving. The saint is presented full-height, in a loose fur coat and an ermine pelerine. On his neck, there is a massive chain with an oval medallion. On his head, there is a princely crown. The early baroque style was reflected in the smooth line of the figure’s silhouette, static posture, and realistic facial expression with individualized features. Harmony and rhythm are seen in the delicately draped folds of clothing, semicircular outlines of the pelerine, chain and collar. The item comes from a church in the village of Kvasovka, Grodno District, known since 1626. Stylistic features, topographic origin, and the development of the saint’s cult determine the dating to the 1630s. Saint Casimir (1458 – 1484) is the heavenly patron saint of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the son of the King of Poland and the Grand Duke of Lithuania Casimir Jagiellonchik. He died in Grodno and was buried in the Vilnya Cathedral. The cult of the prince began to develop immediately after his death, but especially quickly after the canonization in 1602. Images of St. Casimir in churches could be often found side by side with images of St. Stanislav, who was considered the patron saint of the Kingdom of Poland. Sculpture. Angel with a trumpet. Belarus. 18th century. Wood. Levkas, polyment, carving, gilding, polychrome painting. The angel is shown full-height, in a long caftan. The right leg bent at the knees is put slightly forward. There is a trumpet in his left hand; there are spread wings with a relief modeled plumage behind his back. The desire to recapture the movement, balance combined with some decorativeness, the interpretation of the belt effectively tied with a bow, the … Continue reading Virtual exhibition “Traditional woodwork”