HANDICRAFTS

    Ryazan is famous for its craftsmen. Folk handicrafts and art are closely connected with local culture and history. The crafts of the Ryazan region are well-known not only in Russia but also in the world.

       The unique Kadom needle embroidery “Veniz” The beginning of the unique Kadom embroidery goes back to the ancient days. According to the old legend the Russian tsar Peter  the Great ordered all boyars and other nobles to wear the European clothes richly trimmed with lace. The Russian nobility paid for the Venetian and Brussels lace in gold. And in order not to spend the state treasury the Tsar prohibited to purchase the lace abroad and ordered to train Russian nuns to the skill of making the Venetian lace. The nuns were brought to Kadom where they taught the local needlewomen to make fantastic patterns by a needle, to make the wonderful Venetian lace. And soon on the basis of this technique they created the unique needlework “Veniz”. On the basis of the real folk patterns and colour combinations the craftswomen created such articles as table – cloths, napkins, curtains, runners, women’s dresses and blouses.
       It is really good that this handicraft has carried on the tradition in the modern articles of the Kadom needle emdroidery “Venis”. Nowadays the designers use in their work the traditional stitches. White cloth, threads, plain needle – but when the skilled hand touches them the wonder happens: the master makes them live and the delicate ornaments embroidered in silk make the articles really unique. “Veniz” is a very laborious embroidery. It takes minimum 8 hours for the skillful needlewoman to make an openwork pattern diameter up to 5 cm. The collections of  “Kadom Veniz” are exhibited at many All – Russia and international exhibitions in Brussels and Montreal and win a lot of prizes.

     Skopin ceramics
    One of the most ancient pottery centres in Russia is the town of Skopin (Ryazan region). Skopin pottery craft appeared in 1640 and developed as many others in Russia. Craftsmen made pottery tableware for peasant life, chimneys, brick, tile. But in the second part of the XIX century in Skopin appeared a new branch, which glorified this place. It was the production of glazed vessels and candlesticks in the shape of  fantastic animals and birds, decorated with complicated patterns.
     Skopin masters’ articles were taken to the largest museums of Russia: Moscow historical museum, Russian museum in Saint – Petersburg, Ryazan region art museum. In the XX century there were about 50 workshops in the town on the basis of which was created Skopin factory of ceramics.
    In the long years of its existence the pottery craft of Skopin has undergone significant changes: to comply with modern tastes the figured ceramic items are now made much smaller in size. The souvenirs, decorative figurines and vessels of Skopin are nowadays cast into gypsum moulds or shaped by hand. The variety of Skopin articles is diverse. The most interesting, unique things are hand-made sculptures, candlesticks, kvass vessels, jugs.

In October Skopin becomes the center of the International Festival of Potters. Potters from different countries gather together to demonstrate their art. During the breaks between the competitions they organize master-classes for all visitors: everybody can make a ceramic item himself.

Original articles of Skopin pottery craft are a visiting-card of the Ryazan region. It is the best souvenir from our land.     

        Mikhailov lace.
     It is supposed that lace existed before the appearance of a written language. Lace – makers put into patterns their mood and their wishes that’s why such articles not only decorated people’s life but also contained some message to friends and relatives.
     Nowadays there are many techniques of lacemaking, but  Mikhailov lace is the unique   coloured spindle lace, which is notable for its wealth of colour. The traditional colours are red, black, white, sometimes yellow. The lace – makers of Mikhailov use only natural linen, cotton and wool threads. These threads don’t stain even during boiling. Every model of the modern Mikhailov coloured  lace and embroidery is created on the basis of  deep investigations of the age – old folk ornaments. Mikhailov lace is exhibited at different exhibitions and in the museums of Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, New York, Brussels, Montreal, Osako and always arises visitors’ interest and admiration.
     Earlier a gram of lace was equal to a gram of gold, that’s why lace sometimes was called “gold”. Nowadays masters and artists go on creating wonderful articles of applied arts and so restore age – old traditions of unique Mikhailov lace-making and enrich “gold reserves”of  Russia.

       Shilovo wicker-making
       It’s practically impossible to find out when the first wicker article appeared, but it’s known that already in the ancient Egypt plaiting was widely used.
       Wickering was an integral part of the traditional peasant culture of the Shilovo area.  Every family made necessary articles for their needs: baskets, cooking utensils, boxes, chairs, cradles, sledge and so on. 
       Today the masters from Shilovo are ready to present 75 kinds of various handmade wicker furniture, baskets and other articles for everyday necessities. 

       As you know nature treats. Rod also possesses medical properties. It neutralizes negative energy in your house and creates the atmosphere of warmth, joy and happiness.