Pavoloka is an obsolete word from the Russian language, the meaning of which is in the dictionaries of various authors. It was in use in Russia under Oleg and is mentioned many times in the “Word on Igor's Regiment”. So what is it - a hawk?
Meaning of the word
Any silk imported or cotton fabric was called Pavoloka in Russia. Light expensive bedspreads could also be called. From here came the expression “pavolochny” - sewn from this fabric.
Basically, the canvas was called a canvas intended for covering icons.
Application of Pavoloka
In the manufacture of pavolok icons, this is thin paper or a special fabric that was glued to the icon board. It prevented cracking of a special composition - gesso, which primed the surface of the icon before painting.
Thus, the pavoloka is a kind of reinforcing mesh that performs a connecting function between the tree and the chalky ground, on which, after it dries, the image of God or saints is written.
In the absence of this material, the icon will have a short service life, because the gesso will very quickly begin to crack and peel off.
The pavoloka could be solid or partial, superimposed only on a certain fragment of the icon. More often, only joints or defects (cracks or knots) covered her.
In ancient Russia, the material for the manufacture of icons most often served as a cypress board. In this case, an expensive dense weave was used as a pavolka.
For inexpensive icons, they took a simple fabric with a rare weave, such as a sickle. The remains of old fabrics could also be a breeding ground. Sometimes a layer of completely different fabrics was pasted onto one board. The main condition is that they be monophonic.
In mass production of icons, pavolok is just thin paper, and today ordinary gauze is used in its quality.
Even with severe damage, the pavolok protected the product from tearing.