Vologda lace

Vologda lace is a special phenomenon in folk art of the Russian North. Richness and variety of patterns, smoothness of lines, measured rhythm of an ornament, high skills are its artistic peculiarities. Vologda lace is known all over the world, for the long time it personified the glory of the Russian lace.

The word “lace” originated from the word “to circle”, to trim the sides of garments and other articles made of cloth with decorations. Lace-making was known in Russia from old times. The women of different estates made it. The dresses of the tsars, princes and boyars were decorated with lace made of gold, silver and silk threads; a linen lace was used in traditional garments and since the end of the 19th century – a cotton lace.

The artistic peculiarities of Vologda lace formed in the 17-18th centuries. Before the 19th century a lace-making was treated as a home handicraft. In the 20-s of the 19th century a lace-making factory was founded in Vologda outskirts where tens of surf girls worked. In the middle of the 19th century a lace-making became a trade in which thousands of women were involved from many areas. Especially this trade was developed on the territory of Vologda, Kadnikov and Gryazovets municipalities. Each of them had its own local patterns and ways of weaving, their own types of lace articles and only the best expert could differ them. A lace trade in Vologda region reached its prosperity in the 2nd half of the 19th century. If in 1893 four thousand women were involved in lace-making then in 1912 their number increased to almost forty thousand people. The fame of the Vologda lace stepped over the borders of the country. Lace was in fashion in many European countries.

The distinctive feature of traditional Vologda twin lace is an accurate division of the lace in a pattern and a background. As a result large and smooth forms of the ornament are expressively notable by its continuous line equal in wide along the pattern. In earlier Vologda lace stylized images of birds, a tree of life and other old motifs typical to the ancient embroidery were used as the leading ornament. Today Vologda lace is distinctive by the variety of ornaments, monumentality of forms and prevalence of color motifs.

Vologda craft got a broad fame in Russia and abroad. Talent and skills of Vologda lace designers and makers were marked in many international and domestic exhibitions. Vologda lace today is first of all a lace-making company “Snezhinka” (Snowflake) where skilled lace-makers and experienced designers work, it is a professional college where future lace-makers are taught and these are establishments of subsidiary education where young vologodians are introduced to the history of lace-making and master the grounds of the handicraft. Vologda lace-making company “Snezhinka” is a regular participant of international and Russian exhibitions. The company cooperates with Russian and foreign partners. The important part of the designers activity is making exponents for museums and exhibitions. These are mainly pictures, curtains and tablecloths. Today Vologda lace is by the right included in the world treasury of lace-making.