Embroidered Homespun Linen Dress | Lviv, Ukraine

Description

Origin: Ukraine | Lviv region
Era: Early 20th century (circa 1910-1930)
Condition: good; embroidery damaged/missing in places (see photos); stains on back; suitable for both wear and display
Measurements (with garments laying flat):
   Width: 24.5″ side to side fully stretched
   Length: 54″
   Sleeves: 28″ from collar to cuff
Additional Notes: Long sleeve dresses called “sorochky” (plural or “sorochka” singular) are the foundation of most Ukrainian folk costumes. Made of linen, hemp or cotton they were the most important element of traditional Ukrainian dress. As these garments were worn directly against the skin, they were considered to be an extension of the wearer and posses some of their spirit and personality. A wide range of embroidery styles were used to decorate the sorochky blouses and at one time they could be used to distinguish regional and village affiliation. Red and black floral embroidery gained in popularity after western European patterns found their way to villages around the turn of the century. Peasant women throughout the entire country began to adopt them into their designs often abandoning older regionally-specific motifs entirely. This coarse homespun linen dress is an unusual example from the Lviv region that incorporated both contemporary floral motifs and older geometric designs on the cuffs and in the stripes on the sleeves. The round open collar may have been modified from a standing collar at some point during the 20th century to reflect modern urban tastes.