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Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation
Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation
Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation
Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation
Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation

Yarina Nikolayeva

  • Embroiderer
  • Moscow, Russia
  • Master Artisan
Yarina Nikolayeva Embroiderer
Contact
Russian, German, English, Italian
Hours:
By appointment only
Phone:
+7 9166768305
Dmitry Ternovoy © Michelangelo Foundation

A golden thread connecting centuries

  • • Yarina revives the ancient Russian craft of gold and pearl embroidery
  • • It may take months to complete one piece of gold embroidery
  • • She has taught many others this work

Yarina Nikolayeva always wanted to be a teacher – and she has become one. But instead of teaching foreign languages, this Moscow State Pedagogical Institute graduate is now teaching a rare historic craft – gold and pearl embroidery, a tradition that once flourished in Russia but is now almost forgotten. Using the ancient couching stitch, Yarina creates stunning replicas of historic masterpieces, which can now be found in private collections across the globe. She has also found a beautiful way to put some of her embroideries to use. Since 2007, Yarina has led the female vocal ensemble Tausen, which performs Russian folk songs a capella. The singers go on stage in dresses and headwear made by Yarina, thus reviving both vocal and handicraft traditions at the same time.

Read the full interview

Works

  • © Irina Nikolaeva
  • © Irina Nikolaeva
  • © Irina Nikolaeva
  • © Irina Nikolaeva
Photo: © Irina Nikolaeva
Podea

The Saint Irina podea was fully handcrafted using cotton and silk thread as well as gold embroidery. A podea is generally produced to be hung at the foot of an icon in the Orthodox Church. Embroidered podeai are essential to the iconic image as they serve to enrich and develop the theme of the icon itself. It thus creates a dialogue between the two images and opens another level of perception.

Height 32 cm
Length 28 cm

Photo: © Irina Nikolaeva
Kokoshnik I

The Kokoshnik I is a replica of the traditional headdresses worn by women in 19th century Russia, more precisely in the Arkhangelsk and Vologda provinces. It was fully handcrafted using cotton, silk, linen, golden lace and gold embroidery on cardboard. Through research, Yarina managed to replicate the traditional embroidery technique used for the original model, provided to her by a private collector from St. Petersburg.

Height 32 cm
Width 8.5 cm
Length 20.5 cm

Photo: © Irina Nikolaeva
Dushegreya

The Dushegreya was completely handcrafted using different sorts of textiles like velvet, satin ribbon and golden lace as well as sequins and gold embroidery on cardboard. It is a replica of a traditional sleeveless jacket from the 19th century worn by women of the Nizhny Novgorod Governorate. This embroidered masterpiece required two years of work.

Height 108 cm
Length 50 cm

Photo: © Irina Nikolaeva
Kokoshnik II

The Kokoshnik II is a replica of the traditional headpieces worn by women in 19th century Russia, more precisely from the Moscow Governorate. It was fully handcrafted using cotton, silk, linen, golden lace and gold embroidery on cardboard. Through research and from old photographs, Yarina was able to replicate the traditional embroidery technique used in previous centuries.

Height 32 cm
Width 16 cm
Length 20.5 cm

Enjoy an experience with Yarina Nikolayeva

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