The Kadomsky Veniz Factory is the only specialized enterprise in Russia that produces highly artistic products of machine and manual needle embroidery using the venise technique. The work is usually done with white threads on a white basis, but colored patterns are also made.
By order of Peter the Great
The technique of the Kadomsky venice was formed in the XVIII century in the Ryazan. Peter I, being an admirer of European culture, introduced many innovations in patriarchal Russia. One of them was the decree to wear noble people clothes of European cuts, decorated with lace. At that time, the craftsmen of Brussels and Venice were particularly successful in this craft, but their work was expensive. They had to pay for their products with fur or gold, which was wasteful for a poor country.
The boyars realized that it was easier to invite craftswomen from abroad to train Russian girls to embroider graceful patterns. Peter I approved the initiative. Although the European guilds strictly kept their secrets, they managed to persuade several Venetian needlewomen to come to Russia and share their experiences. The Kadomsky monastery, famous for its fine embroidery, was chosen as a workshop.
In the Russian manner
Guests from Venice found grateful students in the person of Ryazan girls. Pretty soon, they mastered the basic wisdom of European needle embroidery. But, as often happens, over time they brought national flavor. As a result, the patterns acquired authentic outlines that were different from the original ones, and lace began to dignify no other than the Kadomsky venice. Kadomsky - in honor of the name of the monastery, and veniz - in deference to the Venetians, who shared secrets.
Rebirth
After the death of Peter I, the fashion for overseas cooled off, and with such hard work the school of Ryazan needlewomen became unclaimed. Fortunately, nuns and common people passed needle embroidery techniques to their successors.
At the end of the 19th century, landowner M.A. Novosiltseva, an admirer of history and folk crafts, proposed to buy lace from the local population in the style of Kadoma venice. This caused a surge in interest in this technique and contributed to its further development. Later Novosiltseva organized a workshop where experienced needlewomen not only carried out orders of noble persons, but also trained the younger generation.
In 1913, the landowner's daughter, M. Yu. Avinova, established the “Handicraft Work Center” in the Kadom settlement. Maria Yurievna herself studied the craft, introducing many innovations, modernizing the technique and drawings of patterns. Ryazan lace invariably caused delight at Russian and international exhibitions, the work of artisans was so subtle.
Power of advice
The new government was sympathetic to the development of folk crafts. In 1925, the needlework school entered the system of the Supreme Economic Council, which gave it official status, and was reorganized from a private sewing and embroidery technical school. In 1927, the Awakening artel was created on its basis, which included 25 lace-makers. As before the revolution, the Kadomsky venise again became a frequent guest of all kinds of exhibitions, and sophisticated products were readily bought by the rich in Europe and America.
By 1933, the team grew to 150 people. New elements were introduced into the technique. Especially popular is the theme of native nature. There are new types of finishes:
- the embankment;
- entwined;
- line;
- slot;
- smooth surface.
A new surge of interest in the unique craft occurred after the war. In 1953, the work of the team was awarded with a Diploma of the III degree from the All-Union Chamber of Commerce. A year later, the products of the Kadomsky Veniz factory were exhibited at exhibitions in Canada (Montreal) and Belgium (Brussels), causing flattering reviews.
From oblivion to development
In the 1950s, the fashion for venise passed. Mass economics and productivity were welcomed in the economy. For complex embroidery, which required months of work on each product, there was no place in the factory. The main products were string-embroidered products, which were also beautiful and unique, but had no relation to the Kadom traditions.
Fortunately, the company found enthusiasts who retained the authentic technique of patterns. On a voluntary basis, a group of craftswomen was created, led by the artist E. V. Shembakova, who set the goal of reviving the craft. After decades of oblivion, the first product in the technology of venice was a set of festive lace napkins, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Victory. Since then, the factory (albeit in small quantities) began to make real works of art, supplementing exhibitions, museums, private collections.
Today
It is enough to take a look at the photo of the Kadoma venice once in order to fall in love with this beauty. Fishnet things may not be intended for utilitarian use, but they create a feeling of comfort, a fabulous, epic mood around you. Products made using gold viscose, floss, silk threads, as if glow from the inside, sharing with the owner of their heat.
The main product range is:
- sundresses, blouses with lace (business card of the company);
- napkins, countertops, tablecloths;
- rushnyks;
- icons, panels;
- collars.
Mixed techniques are actively used in the work. More often, the main background of products is “clogged” with a machine, and cuts and patterns are manual. But there are exclusive things that make gifts for famous people.
It takes a lot of time to make a complex pattern. This is a time consuming process. For example, sewing a tablecloth with hand embroidery and an abundance of lace inserts by one craftswoman may take from 8 to 16 months. By the way, machine embroidery is also done by hand, in the hoop. The process does not use multifunctional systems with software control. The drawing is determined by the imagination of the artist or negotiated with the customer for an individual order.
The address of the factory "Kadomsky Veniz": reg. Ryazan, Kadom, st. Lenin, 47.