At the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda Museum-Reserve an exhibition called 'It's in the Bag' has opened. Occupying 106 sq. m, it features a collection of rare headgear and ethnic costumes from the late 18th to mid-20th centuries from the collections of the Ryazan Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve and the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda Museum-Reserve. The presentation was enhanced by a performance from the soloists of the People's Ensemble of Folk Instruments 'Bylina' under their long-time artistic director Valery Vladimirovich Galkin.
The aim of the exhibition is to present the different types and shapes, purposes and functions of this accessory, its universality and at the same time its geographical uniqueness.
"Our museums have long-standing partnership relations. Several years ago 'Sloboda' initiated the project 'The Kremlin Visiting the Kremlin', and this exhibition is presented in that format. We have repeatedly introduced Ryazan residents to our collections, and now — a friendly return visit! Such 'reciprocal' projects are very important for the development of historical and cultural ties between different regions, expanding the 'area of recognition' of the traditions of various lands,' said Anastasia Listopad, Head of the Exposition and Exhibition Department of the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda Museum-Reserve.
For centuries, besides their utilitarian purpose, headgear helped indicate social status, wealth, age, marital status and ethnic affiliation. This was reflected in language — in proverbs, sayings and set expressions: 'дело в шляпе' ("it's in the bag"/the matter is settled), 'по Сеньке и шапка' (literally "a hat for Senka" — meaning everyone gets what suits them), 'джентльмена делает шляпа' ("a hat makes the gentleman" / "clothes make the man"), 'прошляпил' (slang for "I missed out"/"I dropped the ball"), 'шляпочное знакомство' ("a hat acquaintance") and others.
In olden times, by national dress one could tell, even within a single state, which region a person had come from, since among the indigenous populations of different lands the distinctive costume styles differed markedly.
"We have conventionally divided the exhibition into two parts: the first hall introduces the oldest collection of the Ryazan museum — the ethnographic collection. It began to be assembled as early as 1884. For the exhibition we brought more than 90 items. These include the clothing of wealthy townswomen from the late 17th - early 18th centuries; the costumes of the peoples who settled the Ryazan region — Mordovian (Moksha and Erzya) and Tatar. The second hall was created in collaboration with the Museum of Ivan the Terrible — it displays familiar men's and women's headgear from the late 19th - early 20th centuries, as well as items from the Soviet period. With this project we wanted to emphasize that despite changing fashions, some elements and traditions remain with us forever!" — shared Natalya Shtefaniuk, Head of the Exhibition Department of the Ryazan Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve.
Visitors to the exhibition will surely learn what horned and spade-shaped kichkas are, why a pozaushnik (side-ear flap) and a pozatylnik (nape flap) are needed, and will compare officers' tricorns and bicornes. And of course they can take selfies in the bright costumes at a specially prepared photo zone at the exhibition, which will remain open until mid-June.
Press Service of the Aleksandrovskaya Sloboda Museum-Reserve
