About the craft
From the History of the Orenburg Down Shawl Kombinat. Events and Achievements
Even in difficult times, in the first half of the last century the production of Orenburg down shawls experienced a serious upswing. A considerable number of down partnerships, uniting talented knitters from villages and districts, were scattered throughout the region. Moreover, the partnerships (and later production units) were also centralised and had their own management system. A huge conglomerate of down-knitting craftswomen called the "Orenburg Down Shawl Kombinat" brought knitters from all over the region under its patronage and was the largest down production enterprise in the world.
The great demand for and popularity of the craft generated interest in the Orenburg down shawl both among ordinary people and among the most prominent party figures of the time. As a result, the Kombinat took part in many cultural and political events in the country, and its employees became laureates of prestigious awards in down-knitting competitions held in honour of these events. Today we want to tell you about some of them.
Down items made in honour of the amendments to the USSR Constitution in 1946
According to archival data, one of the first grand events in the USSR in which the Orenburg Down Shawl Kombinat was directly involved. On the occasion of the amendments to the Constitution, a down-knitting competition was announced and held, in which craftswomen of the down partnerships of the Orenburg Region took part. The participants presented items to the commission (mostly down shawls of 500–600 stitches), and many took prize places in the competition and received prestigious awards.
Among the prize-winning contestants were knitters from the Zheltoye, Verkhne-Ozernoye, Nikitino, Kamenno-Ozernoye, Prechistenka, Vyazovka and Vozdvizhenka down partnerships, as well as employees of the "Paris Commune" artel and the Vatutin artel of the Saraktash District.
Competition in honour of the 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution
The October Revolution was an incredibly significant and revered event in the USSR. In honour of its 60th anniversary, party figures held many events and prestigious competitions, including a down-knitting competition.
It must be said that by that time (1977) the down partnerships were already called down production units; some of them had been reorganised or merged with others, and a considerable number of new production units had been formed.
Presented at this competition were down shawls and gossamer shawls. Among the prize-winning participants were knitters from the Zheltoye, Mednogorsk, Saraktash, Cherkassy, Chernyy Otrog, Verkhniye Chebenki, Nikitino, Orsk, Orenburg and Prechistenka down production units.
The items presented at the competition were approved at the highest level and recommended for introduction into mass production.
Competition in honour of the 26th Congress of the CPSU
The Party Congress was also always a significant event in the life of the country. This time, too, the Orenburg Down Shawl Kombinat became part of the event.
This time the participating production units described in the previous event were joined by the Iriklinsky and Mednogorsk down production units. Traditionally, the Kombinat's employees were honoured with certificates, prizes and bonuses.
The 1980 Olympics
An event of colossal scale and significance for the USSR. In 1980 the country hosted the Olympics on its territory for the first time, and the participants performed more than worthily, showing their country at its very best.
The Orenburg Down Shawl Kombinat not only produced items dedicated to the memory of the 1980 Olympics, but also helped organise the event, for which it was awarded a letter of thanks from the Central Committee.
The 1977–1978 review exhibition of folk artistic craft items
Another major event at which Orenburg down shawls from the Kombinat's production units proudly represented our region and our unique folk craft.
The event was widely covered in the international press and received great publicity, and the Orenburg down shawl once again showed its cultural significance.
These are only some of the achievements of one of the largest organisations that in its time raised the down-knitting craft to such a high level. For our part, we will continue our research, firstly to keep introducing you to the history of the main craft of the Orenburg region and, of course, guided by the rich experience accumulated over the years, to develop the craft again and try to raise it to the unprecedented level for which it was famous in the twentieth century. Follow the updates on the pages of our website – the most interesting is yet to come.
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