Auduma un papīra ziedu vainagi Latvijā 18. un 19. gadsimtā
The Crowns of Fabric and Paper Flowers Made in Latvia in the 18th and 19th Centuries

Summary/Abstract: The author has analysed the written, iconographic, applied and folklore sources kept in various archives, which provide evidence on the use of the crowns made of fabric and paper flowers and head accessories of the tiara type in the entire Latvia in the late 18th century and the 19th century. The most accurate data on the appearance and structure of crowns are provided by those crowns of artificial flowers that are kept at the archives of Latvian museums. Nine records of customs at the Archives of Latvian Folklore contain the most valuable information about the context of these crowns. The crowns made of fabric and paper flowers were owned by young girls and brides. For a long period of time, they were worn together with the traditional clothing. The crowns of artificial flowers were expensive and were regarded as beautiful and prestigious. Usually only girls from well-off families could afford them. Such crowns in Latvia represent the popular European practice of fabric and paper flowers; however, taking into account the continuing and wide popularity, they must be recognised as part of head accessories belonging to the traditional clothing of Latvia. Therefore, the argument that the crowns of artificial flowers do not correspond to “Latvian taste” is weak. These crowns were excluded from the tradition only in the 20th century, when their popularity had ceased.

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