Podillia Kilims

This book presents for the first time under one cover a variety of carpets with geometric ornaments from museum collections in Kyiv, Lviv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr and other cities, as well as from private collections. Attention is focused on the carpet-making tradition of Podillia, because it was in this region of Ukraine that it was especially rich and diverse.

“Here, ornamental compositions are built on combinations of a rhombus, square or rectangle, cross-shaped elements, rhythmically broken lines, a triangle and other geometric shapes and configurations,” says the introductory article by Volodymyr Tytarenko.

“Such carpets were produced in centers throughout the region, the variety of their ornamental compositions – a wide range, from simple to the most complex, – of the most ancient origin.”

Introductory article: art historian Volodymyr Tytarenko from Vinnytsia, Honored Artist of Ukraine, long-time researcher of the folk culture of Podillia. A special area of ​​his interest throughout his professional life was the original carpet weaving of the region. He outlines its key traditional centers, analyzes their features, and identifies ornamental groups.

“In all my field expeditions and travels through the villages and towns of the eastern Podil region – for almost forty years – I paid attention to ornamentation first and foremost,” the author notes. “Perhaps my modest observations of Podil carpets will be useful to younger researchers, designers, and artists.”

Book design – Kharkiv studio “Grafprom.”