The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

UKRAINIAN WOOD CARVING

MANY ARTICLES ARE DECORATIVELY CARVED FROM WOOD BY A
GROUP OF UKRAINIANS CALLED HUTSULS. VARIOUS GEOMETRIC
SHAPES ARE CAREFULLY CHISELED INTO THE WOOD. SOME OF THE
SYMBOLS USED IN EASTER EGG ART ARE USED IN THE WOOD CARVING.
THIS DECORATIVE CARVED WOOD APPEARS AS PLATES, FANCY
WOODEN CONTAINERS WITH COVERS, CANDLESTICKS, AND JEWELRY
SUCH AS BEADS, BROOCHES, AND BRACELETS. SOMETIMES THE
CARVED WOOD IS IMPLANTED WITH COLORFUL GLASS BEADS TO
ACCENTUATE THE VARIOUS SHAPES AND DESIGNS.

Submitter comment: MANY UKRAINIAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES REQUEST THESE ITEMS
FROM FAMILY MEMBERS STILL IN THE UKRAINE. THEY ADD THESE
ITEMS TO THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS OR GIVE THEM AS GIFTS FOR
VERY SPECIAL OCCASIONS.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SHAMOKIN

Date learned: 00001960S