Russian Goldwork embroidery

Russian Goldwork embroidery
The art of embroidery with the use of metal, gold, silver, or copper threads is called Goldwork. Goldwork embroidery masters usually used imitation of gold threads, gold-coated silver, and even if they used gold, it contained a very low percent of real gold. Originated in Asia 2000 years ago, it reached a high level of skill in the Medieval England, all over Europe, and Russia. Beautiful Goldwork was used in church vestments, hangings, later in clothing and furnishings of the royalty and nobility, then – military and official regalia. In Russia, more than in any other country, Goldwork is most commonly used for the highest-quality church vestments and art embroidery, for occasional and special use, due to both the expense of the materials and the time to create the embroidery, and because the threads will not hold up to frequent laundering of any kind.

Byzantine gold embroidered cloth, or “canvas”, were known in Russia as early as pre-Christian times. And then chronicles often noted rich embroidered in gold dress, church veil, air shroud, surplices and other clergy apparel, brought from Constantinople.

With the approval of Kievan Rus in the late tenth century Christianity as a state religion, along with ornamental embroidery existed since ancient times, began to develop fine, or “facial” sewing. Women practiced goldwork in royal and noble chambers, convents and merchants’ homes. Those very few goldwork pieces of the 15th century have preserved the examples of the picturesque style.

Goldwork embroidery and “Lacing” pearls were very common in Russia. Goldwork workshops were in almost every princely and boyar farms, homes and convents. In the late 19th century goldwork embroidery developed in the handicraft centers, monasteries. Goldwork pieces used by the peasants were mainly created by professional embroiderers among the peasant women.

Russian Goldwork embroidery

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