Virtual exhibition “Human – animal relations”  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 – Human – animal relations. Preili Museum of History and Applied Arts Although man has proclaimed himself the crown of creation and the ruler of all animals, this triumph would hardly be possible without the help of friends and subordinates – animals. The Mongol tribes formed the largest empire in the history of the world on horseback, while the dog Laika was the first living creature from planet Earth to travel into the space, but many of the discoveries of modern science lie on the shoulders of mice and rats. Monuments have been erected in many cities around the world, highlighting and appreciating the contribution of animals (although not always voluntarily), and the Preili Museum of History and Applied Arts also bear witness to the achievements of the human-animal union. Animal-shaped clay whistles (svilpaunieki) by Latgalian potters: A stylized rooster. Bronislava Kikere (1932-2016). 2005 A duck. Polikarps Čerņavskis (1923-1997). 1996 A rider on cow. Andrejs Paulāns (1896-1973). The middle of 20’th century A rider on horse. Antons Ušpelis (1944-2015). 2004 The collection of Preili Museum includes musical instruments or whistles (svilpaunieki) – clay toys – of several Latgalian potters – Antons Ušpelis, Andrejs Paulāns, Polikarps Čerņavskis, Bronislava Kikere.  Svilpaunieks is a clay figure with a hollow center, with 1 or 2 sound holes and a blown gap with a whistle hole. These whistles come in a wide variety of forms, inspired by the animal world and most commonly by birds and horses. But there is a place for a cow, a sheep, a goat, a pig, a dog and a cat. In terms of form, they stand far from naturalism. Silpavnieki also decorates dishes – for example, beer mugs with whistles are used to let the hostess know that the dish is empty by whistling. Andrejs Paulāns is considered to be the one of the most outstanding master of svilpaunieki. Among the Paulāns svilpaunieki, a place of honour is given to the horse, but there are riders on the ox, the miracle bird, also on the pig. There are saddled horses, sheep, deer. Often these whistles are designed as animals with several heads. Today, svilpaunieki have lost their toy function and are more often traded and bought as souvenirs. A handbook for requisitioning horses suitable for military service. 1906  Historically, only a few richest countries in the world had “state owned horses”, ie state-maintained stables where horses were bred for important national functions. In turn, peasants’ horses were used to perform the tasks necessary for the army, and, like humans, horses were subjected to military service. The handbook was issued by the General Staff of the Russian Imperial Army and refers to the Tsar’s 1876 Law on “Horse Military Enlistment”. According to it, the military personnel of the Russian Empire had the right to requisite up to 40% of the horses owned by manors or farms in the territory of the whole country for the needs of army functions. This duty was also performed by Ignātijs Kubeckis, a clerk of the manor of Geraņimova (now Preiļi municipality) who served in the Don Cossack Regiment. The expropriated horses were responsible for performing physically heavy work – transporting the army and its parts, towing ammunition and artillery, as well as service in the cavalry. The responsible persons of the army needed certain skills to select horses strong enough and useful for work, their usefulness being determined by the physical parameters of the horse, such as the condition of nails, teeth and muscles. Photograph. Lucija Preise and her cow Margo in Siberia. 1950’s. The living conditions that awaited the Latvians deported on March 25, 1949 were very difficult, and in the story of every Latvian who survived Siberia there are memories of great deprivation, the feeling of hunger, the hard work and at some point, it seems, even the help of fate itself, which allowed survive this time. Lūcija Preise, who was deported with her children, worked as a milkmaid in a collective farm in the village of Umļekan, Zeja district, Amur region. She had to get to work well before sunrise, sometimes measuring several kilometers on foot to milk, feed or transport cattle from pastures to the farm and vice versa. Although the work was very hard, L. Preise treated her cows with great love, as she had used to do in her household in Latvia, Madona county, Andrēni. In Siberia she cherished especially her cow Margo, who was not only very calm, but also, as L. Preise remembers, very smart, because she knew her milking time, knew the way home from pasture, even knew how to open the fence. With her hard work and persistent work L. Preise was able not only to overcome the burden of Siberian life and return to Latvia, but also to fulfil the greatest task of her life – to educate her children. Hrodna State Museum of the History of Religion  Since ancient times, animals have been both rivals and companions of man. Man has always felt the intimate relation to animal world. This feeling could not but found expression in a variety of activities, both related to everyday economic needs and religious ideas and art. The first images of animals found on the territory of Belarus date back to the Neolithic period. They are small figurines of wild animals and birds that are believed to have a magical function and were used in hunting rituals. With the transition to agriculture and cattle breeding, images of horses became increasingly common, which also acquired a sacred meaning. The horse began to associate with the sun, and a bird that rises into the sky and brings the sun’s warmth on its wings became a symbol of domestic happiness and well-being. Bird. Mikhail Rzheutsky. Belarus. 1987. Wood, carving  The image of a bird is one of … Continue reading Virtual exhibition “Human – animal relations”