Living Things

One of the ancient crafts - weaving from pine roots, originated along trade routes from the Northern Dvina to the Volga, and was especially widespread in the Komi, Arkhangelsk region and Vyatka. Masters were called "charushechnikov" for a reason, the fact is that charushe - such baskets in which the loaves of bread were formed before baking. They were woven from the roots of conifers, or, less often, hollowed out of wood. In Komi the craftsmen were called traditionally "korenniki", everything is clear here without any explanation.

This craft was very popular, hundreds of masters made pine crockery, braided vessels, made boxes, etc. Not only pine root was used, but also spruce, and to save material willow twig was often braided, although in the classic technology of weaving all the same unbranched root is placed inside.

How did you weave? They took a root cleaned of bark and started to braid it with another root, split into two halves. Weaving was dense and tight, the material was smooth and glossy with pine aroma. Products turned out durable, reliable, it can be washed and actively used in everyday life.

Now you can find pine root baskets on sale on the Internet. But I am determined to weave my own charushka for baking bread myself, while in the process of harvesting the vine, but very interesting to try.