Headdress, early 19th century, Russian, silk, pearls, metal, cotton, paper [4319 x 4319]

    by Saint-Veronicas-Veil

    6 Comments

    1. Saint-Veronicas-Veil on

      “This object is from the collection of Natalia de Shabelsky (1841-1905), a Russian noblewoman compelled to preserve what she perceived as the vanishing folk art traditions of her native country. Traveling extensively throughout Great Russia, she collected many fine examples of textile art of the wealthy peasant class. From the 1870s until moving to France in 1902, Shabelsky amassed a large collection of intricately embroidered hand-woven household textiles and opulent festival garments with rich decoration and elaborate motifs.

      Married women were required to cover their hair entirely lest they be considered immodest, therefore headdresses, or kokoshniks were often accompanied by a venchik, a forehead covering made of fabric or metal, as seen here with headdress. Peter the Great’s (1672-1725) attempts to Westernize Russia were partially manifested in changes to the traditional costume of the court. Though they were not required by law to adhere to the reformations, the peasant class commonly adopted aspects of Western styles blended with folk dress. This headdress in particular is an excellent example of the melding of cultures found in Russian history. The shape of this headdress is nearly identical to a French style from Alsace illustrated in Auguste Racinet’s ‘The Complete History of Costume’. This type of crossover is characteristic of the evolution of Russian dress.” [The Met](https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/155785)

    2. Swimming_Bowler6193 on

      Good for her for trying to preserve her culture.

      The pattern is pretty but the shape is not.

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