Crafts with a purpose

The exhibition "Crafts with Intent" shows samples of folk toys of the last third of the 20th century from the collection of the Grodekovo Museum. It includes more than 100 products of various folk crafts: Dymkovo, Kargopol, Abashev, Filimonov, Skopino, Bogorod, etc. The exhibition is organized by the Museum.

Folk toys are attractive for their multiple meanings, depth, symbolic images, decorative combined with laconic and conventional images. The skill of craftsmen and artists is manifested in an extraordinary sense of the material and its natural properties, observance and careful preservation of technological methods. Russian traditional toys are made mainly of clay, wood, straw and birch bark - warm and "soulful" materials, the basis from which the everyday environment of the Russian people "grew". The characters are diverse: horses, birds, sheep, goats, bears, skomorokhi, female figures, horsemen, polkans and many others. Often they become the heroes of folklore or everyday plots, fulfilling certain roles - lovers on a walk, shopkeepers at the fair, owners of the house at a tea party, inhabitants of the farmstead, mythical defenders.

A toy is the brightest and most expressive type of arts and crafts, the first thing a child encounters on the way of cognizing the world around him and himself in it. However, this attribute of children's games also has a scientific value: the toy is indispensable as a source in the study of the spiritual life of the people. These figures were actively used in ritual practice, having preserved for us the most ancient forms and symbols of pagan beliefs. The plots and composition often reflected social roles and relations in society, traditions of child-rearing. The peculiarity of each craft allows us to trace the history of its formation and how the national characteristics of the inhabitants of different regions of Russia influenced the choice of material, shape, color and details of the toy. 

The exhibition also presents skillfully embroidered towels - rushniki. Rushniki are traditionally associated with domestic warmth and care, they were often used in rituals associated with family holidays. Embroidery contains patterns and symbols that are passed from generation to generation and, like a toy, preserves traditions and familiarizes children with cultural heritage. Preserving and passing on traditions is the main intention of the craft!

The exhibition runs throughout the whole month of March

*Entrance is free if you have a ticket to the museum