Bed curtain border

This object is from the collection of Natalia de Shabelsky (1841-1905), a Russian noblewoman compelled to preserve what she perceived as the vanishing folk art traditions of her native country. Traveling extensively throughout Great Russia, she collected many fine examples of textile art of the wealthy peasant class. From the 1870s until moving to France in 1902, Shabelsky amassed a large collection of intricately embroidered hand-woven household textiles and opulent festival garments with rich decoration and elaborate motifs. The Brooklyn Museum holdings include many fine examples including the majority of the garments. Portions of Shabelsky's collection are also housed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Cleveland Art Museum, and the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg.

Due to the size of this bed curtain border, it likely belonged to a wealthier family of the peasant class. The level of detail is remarkable, representing what were probably known buildings to the maker. The ground is dense with motifs, including the common peacocks as well as figures that are most likely representative of the daughter goddess. The daughter goddess often accompanies the great goddess, represented here by the tree of life.