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Rushnyky, Floral and Animal Motifs

 


Lilya Kazantseva and Ludmilla Gandzha embroider the traditional rushnyk, a sort of towel 12 to 18 inches wide, 3 to 12 feet long. With geometric or floral patterns primarily near the ends, the rushnyk was traditionally used in folk rituals, weddings, births, special occasions and religious holidays. They hang in many rural homes, draped over icons or other paintings, adorning tables or windows. Like pysanky, rushnyky designs differ by region. There are more than 100 different styles of embroidery in Ukraine. Some are more ornate than others. For an intricate cross-stitch design in the Hutsul tradition, it can take one woman almost a month, working 8 hours a day, to complete the pattern. The traditional sign of a particularly well-made rushnyk is when the reverse side looks just as finished as the front side, and, in fact, it is difficult to tell front from back.

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Rushnyky, Geometric Patterns

 


Done by Lilya Kazantseva and Ludmilla Gandzha, the detail on the Kyiv patterned rushnyky demonstrates the traditional use of black and red. In the folk symbology, red is the color of the sun, the heart, the gift of life and joy. Black is night, eternity, solemn decisions and sorrow. The two colors demonstrate the two opposing and balancing forces in life. Use these as table runners, special accents for door frames, windows and mirrors, drape on special chairs or sofas, or fold and put in a shadow box as a unique piece of traditional hand-crafted folk art.

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Rushnyky, Geometric Patterns

 


These colored geometrics from Poltava and the Podil area near Ternopilska Oblast are done by Lilya Kazantseva and Ludmilla Gandzha. Reflecting the geographical and cultural influences of their areas, the Poltava rushnyk is usually rendered in blue and black, showing the floral motifs as used in "petrykivka". The Podil area rushnyk reflects a Polish influence, demonstrating the cross-fertilization of designs common to the Trans-Carpathian area of Eastern Europe.

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Rushnyky, Intricate and Cross-Stitch

 


The most amazing example of the skill and tradition of the rushnyk is displayed in the intricate cross-stitch designs from the Trans-Carpathian Hutsul area. Dona by Lilya Katzenseva and Ludmilla Gandzha, this cross-stitch pattern can take one woman almost a month, working 8 hours a day, to complete. The simpler design from Dniepropetrovsk utilizes the traditional red and black in an elegant cross-stitch, while the Ivano-Frankivsk pattern echoes the woven belts and accessories common in the Carpathian Mountain tradition.

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