The peak of the popularity of the French language in Russia occurred in the 18th-19th centuries, and it was at this time that a lot of French words appeared in colloquial Russian speech. They could not fail to leak under such an abundance of French tutors, dance teachers and good manners. And the inquiring Russian mind harmoniously woven new words into the everyday vocabulary, creating new expressive images. For example, lace is exactly the French word. It came to us with fashionable dresses, the finest stockings and lace accessories.
The origin and meaning of the word "openwork"
The French word ajour (or ajourer) literally means "to make it through." This concept was most widely used at the beginning of the nineteenth century, and this is easily explained.
What in our life can be openwork:
- fabrics, wardrobe items and accessories;
- jewelry;
- some elements of architectural structures.
In addition, this word is often referred to in a figurative sense, as phraseologism, and the adjective "openwork" is used in literary speech to describe a special type of shadow, cloud, web, and so on. It turns out that lace is anything that has a certain through pattern with many holes.
Fabrics, lace, knitting.
Textile lace products can be of varying degrees of transparency. For example, guipure is usually used for elegant dresses of a simple cut, not overloaded with details. The decorative role here is played not by the elaborate configuration of the product, but by emphasized simple lines that do not distract attention from the beauty of the material itself. If the through holes are large enough, then the dress is made on the lining fabric.
Even before the advent of French lace fabrics in Russia, there were similar products of varying degrees of complexity. An ordinary hemlock, when a transverse thread was pulled out of the canvas, and then the lobar was pulled, forming holes, very decorated the hem of the sundresses. Openwork knitted shawls at all times were considered a special accessory, and lace is a more complex option. Thus, openwork is a special interweaving of threads, due to which a translucent pattern is formed.
Jewelry
A high level of craftsmanship of a jeweler is elegant lace made of silver, gold or platinum wire. This pattern looks airy and elegant in different decorations. There are many different methods of working with precious metals, allowing you to create an elegant openwork. This makes it possible to beat the texture of metal and stones in different ways.
Volumetric earrings made in the openwork technique look good. The weight of such products does not pull the lobe precisely because of the thought-out through texture. Sometimes openwork is used as an option for fixing natural pearls so as not to make a hole in a precious pearl - it is placed in a large-cell golden “cage”.
Openwork in the design of buildings and structures
The very idea of a pattern with through holes is not limited to jewelry and wardrobe items. Since ancient times, decorative techniques have been used in construction, which make it possible to build all kinds of translucent structures - light curly lattices, more like an elegant decoration, can simultaneously perform utilitarian functions.
Masterpieces of art forging can be considered a good example, when an easy, but extremely durable lace is created from metal. Photos of gorgeous openwork gates and handmade hedge elements become the highlight of the portfolio of renowned landscape design experts.
Ancient palaces decorated with stone lace are reflected in modern buildings. Reinforced concrete panels with a through pattern were used even in the USSR. This greatly facilitates the design, and in some cases not only looks original, but also allows you to solve pressing operational problems. For example, to create a massive, but at the same time translucent partition without the use of glazing.
Figurative sense
Many words in the Russian language are used not only in the literal sense. For example, the figurative meaning of the concept of lace is "everything is in order." When they say "everything is openwork," they may mean in general a good state of affairs or a successfully completed difficult task. Why did this phraseologism take root?
Perhaps the reason is the rather high price of openwork fabrics, which in ancient times were made by hand. Only rich people could afford an outfit of such matter; it demonstrated a high social position. In a similar sense and for the same reason, the phrase “all in chocolate” is used.
In literary texts, metaphors and comparisons are often used to “bulge” descriptions. The lacy shade of trees, the openwork web, decorated with diamond drops of dew and other spectacular images make it possible not only to create the reader's view of the landscape, but also to imbue with the corresponding mood. In business and official speech, such comparisons are inappropriate, but in art and colloquial speech are quite acceptable.