A little history of basket weaving

The weaving of wicker is one of the oldest human occupations. The first wicker items were found by archaeologists in Egypt and the middle East. From old manuscripts we know that in Ancient Rome, too, knew wicker furniture and many other household items, is made from twigs of willow and other materials. Weaving has emerged primarily in the areas of rivers and lakes, where, on the one hand, there was a lot of natural material, and on the other was big and diverse the need for braided products: household items, fishing equipment, wicker traps for animals and birds, etc.

Since the middle ages, wicker products find wide application. The peasants, it was everyday objects, from the nobility – the subjects of leisure and interior decoration. The best products made by skilled craftsmen, was covered with gilding and decorated boudoirs and palaces of nobles. The gilding is particularly widely used in France. At the end of the XIX century appeared the book with a detailed description of the technological process of weaving, gilding and silvering of wood and wicker. At this time, the netting came into Vogue. Very popular wicker furniture, baby carriages, trunks, suitcases, etc. Weaving from a handicraft production moved to an industrial basis. For training organized schools in many countries of the world.

Fashion weave has come and to Russia. The largest centers of weaving were concentrated in Moscow, Vladimir, Tver, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Vyatka and other provinces. The development of weaving contributed to the organization of schools that taught weaving. Such schools were opened in Yaroslavl, Tula, Kursk and Moscow regions. One of the largest centurv netting was Large Vyazemy village, Zvenigorod district, Moscow province, where development of the fishery contributed to a local landowner, Prince D. V. Golitsyn, who introduced the weaving of peeled rods in the estate, and then in the village. Subsequently, there was developed the weaving of furniture. In 1891 at the expense of known Russian patron S. G. Morozov to study basket weaving at its most perfect forms were sent abroad A. I. Berezovsky. On his return he organized a Zemstvo training workshop at the station of Golitsyno of the Moscow railway. In the workshop taught local craftsmen the production of fashion goods for domestic samples and manuals that were supplied by Moscow handicraft Museum, as well as albums and books, published in London, Vienna, Paris. Cologne, new York and other cities around the world. The best workers this workshop participated in international exhibitions, where he won international recognition and received prizes.

The wide spread of basket weaving and got in the Belgorod region Stary Oskol, Kerchenskom, Belgorod, Graivoronsky Rudnyy counties. In each of them there was once a clearly expressed their artistic and technological features for the production of household products of the vine. Much is now forgotten and requires serious consideration. It is known that Sloboda Borisovka Graivoronsky district was a centre of Handicrafts. But here basket weaving as a craft, was later to develop, and had such deep traditions, which are preserved in the Central regions of Russia. The reasons for this lay in the strong survivals of serfdom. The impoverishment of the peasants narrowed the domestic market.

In 50-ies of our century in the furniture Borisov factory shop was established basket weaving. They began to produce wicker furniture and articles of utilitarian purpose. In 1971 at the initiative of the artist Yuri Petrovich Agafonov vines begin to apply with the pottery. At the same time expanding the range of products of the workshop of basket weaving: there are decorative biscuit dishes, sweets bowls, murals and many other artistic products.

The products of the workshop of basket weaving is still in great demand. The skill level of some of the weavers is very high.