Pottery Collection from the Museum of Maksym Rylskyi

Author

Istomina Halyna

a Ph.D. in Art Studies, a research fellow at the Department of Visual and Applied Arts of M. Rylskyi Institute of Art Studies, Folkloristics and Ethnology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine). ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3952-013X

Pottery Collection from the Museum of Maksym Rylskyi

Abstract

The Museum of Maksym Rylskyi is one of the museums in Kyiv, devoted to Ukrainian poet M. Rylskyi. The collection of ceramics from the Maksym Rylskyi Museum is distinguished by the sophistication of the colour scheme and the perfection of forms. The ceramics of different periods, from tableware to decorative items – is submitted in the Maksym Rylskyi Museum. A decorative small barrel attracts attention in the museum. It is painted with the ceramic glaze. A floral and grape ornament is placed on a grey-blue background.

The colour solution of the phytomorphic ornament is a fairly successful combination of red-brown, yellow and light green colours. The barrel has four legs. Large and bright floral elements are typical for the decoration of Opishne pottery.

Bunches of grapes are woven into the stylized floral ornament. Perhaps, it is exactly this motif that has inspired Maksym Rylskyi to the famous poetic lines: ”Roses and grapes, beautiful and useful...”. And probably another ceramic product – the kumanets – has served as an object of inspiration. The stylized bunches of grapes alternating with flowers are placed around its opening. The exquisite leg of the kumanets is also decorated with such racemes.

The motif of grapes can also be seen on a decorative plate by the artist of decorative and applied arts Ye. Dmytriieva (1900–1969). Unlike painted ceramic articles, the plaque is decorated with an academic bas-relief image of grapes and leaves. Careful processing of the bas-relief in this work has made it possible to do without the colour and gloss of the glaze. That’s why the decorative plate is only burnt.

Yevheniia Dmytriieva has presented a decorative plate to Maksym Rylskyi. Yevheniia Mykhailivna is known as an old friend of the Rylskyi family. Maksym Tadeiovych works have inspired Ye. Dmytriieva to create wonderful samples of artistic ceramics. She has created decorative dishes after the motifs of M. Rylskyi poem Thirst (1940).

All articles from the collection of Maksym Rylskyi Museum are distinguished by their craftsmanship of execution and impeccable taste. They fit the interior of the living room and other rooms of Maksym Tadeiovych house very well. The art-studies analysis of selected works of ceramics testifies not only scientific and poetic gifting, but also the scientist’s excellent artistic taste.

Keywords

museum, ceramics collection, Maksym Rylskyi, ornamental motifs, pottery.

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