10/03/06The Charming Signs of Old Days
 Many things surround a person in his everyday life and every thing has its own background. During the centuries the things condensed people' time - were improved and changed according to the period's fashions, style and ideas of beauty. They preserved the memory of the people and epochs which passed away.
We, who live now, can touch the bygones with the help of the museum, where the link connecting the past and the present exists. The exhibition of old things in store of the Vladimir and Suzdal museum-preserve presents everyday items and works of art from the 19th-early 20th century. This diverse world of things creates the vivid image of the past.
Vladimir of the late 18th-early 20th century. A 1913 block calendar, a 1902 Russian Calendar and a Vladimir calendar and Memorandum, issues of newspapers and magazines are 'the signs' of the city life of bygone centuries. On display, next to the picture "Lady writing a letter", one can see samples of letters, written according to the rules of the high society's etiquette. There are also desk sets for writing-desks (different for men and women), a paper knife, visiting cards and a note-book.
 A remarkable exhibit is an old camera, put on a tripod. The photography was getting very popular at that time and we see photographs on visiting card and passe-partout; there are portraits made by the famous photographers of Vladimir.
The visitor of the exhibition is invited to have a walk along the boulevard. The dummies demonstrate men's and women's clothes for different seasons - two rotunda dresses, a fir coat with a shawl for a merchant wife, a dress for visits, a frock coat and a simple philistine dress. Among the accessories presented one can see hats, walking sticks, gloves, bags, umbrellas, glasses and footwear.
The section "In peace of cozy rooms" is dedicated to the light and kind world of childhood. One can see a coat, a dress, and a shirt of a boy, "an envelope" for a baby, and a baptismal shirt. A wet-nurse has always been next to a child in every noble family. You can see her dress and a feeding bottle for nursing a child.
    The townpeople could live in joy. A visit to the theatre and a ball were considered a feast. The museum preserves play-bills, theatre posters, opera glasses and fans.
At home guests were received at the tables beautifully laid with porcelain and crystal tableware.
The exhibition presents the wedding complex - a wedding dress, a bride diadem, candles and wedding icons, photos and invitation cards. Christmas and Easter celebrations are also described.
Gentlemen were very fond of hunting. Sporting guns and trophies are shown at the exhibition.
It's also possible to be a guest at the peasants' wedding, to see festive dresses of rural residents.
A separate section is dedicated to clocks, which were one of the main elements in the decoration of every interior.
Next to the clocks which stood on the mantelpiece and hang on the wall, there are watches worn in the breast pockets.
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