Interactive educational exhibition of folk life and costume “Secrets of the Old Chest”

The history of the museum creation dates to 2012, when the first donated artifacts (an old Cossack shawl and a men’s shirt) fell into our hands. Over time, traveling with the folklore-ethnographic expeditions with the aim of writing down songs, historical and ethnographic material in the farms and villages, we managed to gather a unique collection of the objects of rural life, authentic folk costumes, etc. Some items were purchased from collectors, in the flea markets of the country, something was exchanged, and something was brought by the people as a gift. Over time, many objects were accumulated, and there was simply no place for their storage at home. 11 Lytayev A.A., the director of the MBI SE Children’s School of Arts № 11, suggested that I organize an exhibition and place it in the exhibition hall of the MBI SE Children’s School of Arts №11. So, on May 25, 2018, the exhibition “Secrets of the old chest” was formally opened. The exhibition presents authentic women’s and men’s folk costumes (over 50) from various regions of Russia, as well as the objects of rural life, ancient church utensils, and much more. The exhibition is illustrated with short ethnographic films. Also, everyone can participate in master classes and make a traditional folk toy with their own hands.

At the moment, the exhibition presents authentic women’s and men’s folk costumes (holiday, casual, wedding, fasting, etc.) from the late 19th – early 20th centuries, procured from various regions of Russia (Kaluga, Voronezh, Belgorod, Tambov, Kursk, Ryazan, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Bryansk, Volgograd, Tula, Nizhny Novgorod regions, etc.). The exhibition also includes various household items that were used in the household, such as clay and wooden utensils, a loom, samovars, coal irons, baskets, spinning wheels, chests, cradles, yokes, troughs, etc. Also displayed are a large number of antique textiles (these are samples of homespun cloth – wool, hemp and linen), fabric cuts, rushnyks, embroideries, bed skirts, lace, etc., as well as old church utensils: icons, crosses and church books.

This collection helps the viewer plunge into the world of traditional folk culture and to understand how our ancestors lived at the turn of the 19th – 20th centuries.