A merchant who initially approached us to chastise us for our gullibility in purchasing what was sold to us as an antique, but what appeared to her experienced eye to be an obvious forgery. On a subsequent visit to the market, we spoke to her again, and found her to have a warm personality and a radiant smile.
This illuminating photo essay contains historical images of the budyonovka hat, which it turns out was originally designed by artist Viktor Vasnetsov for the tsar’s army and modeled on the helmet of the Russian epic heroes known as the bogatyrs.
Openwork refers to ornamental patterns of openings created using various materials.
