Historical quests
Tula Painter, Andrei Andreyevich Popov
From the very beginning of his adult carrier, Andrei Popov showed great promise as an artist with his vivid and captivating style.
Хранитель Музея самоваров и бульоток.
ГУК ТО «Государственный архив Тульской области», главный палеограф отдела научно-справочной литературы.
Samovar Making Back in the Old Days. Part II Fitting and Turning.
Most of the raws underwent double shaping: lathe turning and stock removal, i.e. processing using fitter tools.
Batashev-Junior
Among all famous samovar makers brothers, the Batashevs, Alexei, the junior, is known the least. Today but we will try to repair this injustice.
Dowry, Major Woman’s ‘Weapon’
In Russia of early XIX through early XX century an old patriarchal tradition set forth the subordinate status for a woman. To provide a decent living for a woman, her parent or brother were to give away a part of their property as ‘a dowry’ to become her heritable property.
Samovar Making Back in the Days. Patterning
In the later XIX century Tula became a samovar capital of the Russian Empire with 77 samovar making plants running as of 1879.
The Small House of Nashchokin
Pavel Voinovich Nashchokin was a passionate collector for various pieces of art. The most famous piece of his collection was a model of 1820-1830’s noble’s apartment, sort of a “doll house” with every single tiny piece made by well-known living craftsmen.
Epiphany cathedral of Tula Kremlin (now Exhibition hall of the Weapon Museum)
On 19th of January all orthodox christians celebrate the Epiphany Day. On that day church reflects on the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist in the river of Jordan, the day he has revealed himself as the Messiah.
Folk Holidays: Ivan Kupala
Last time we talked about the customs and rituals of Mermaid Week. But perhaps the most unusual folk holiday, that is still celebrated today, is St. John’s Day (Birthday of St. John the Baptist, Yarilin Day, Yaril), which is celebrated on June 24 / July 7 (summer solstice).
Mermaid week in folk tradition
In the folk calendar we can find a number of holidays associated with Christianity, but which actually have ancient pagan roots. Their significance and rites are now largely forgotten. An exhibition of folk dolls by master of crafts Irina Agaeva at the Museum of Samovars and Kettles in hotel GRUMANT will help us recall some of them.