Book: Nalichniki — Central Russia
Description
Since three-quarters of the book's content is photographs, its dimensions are as large as could be: 275×350 mm — larger than an encyclopaedia. This is a wonderfully generous scale, and even the finest details of carved nalichniki will be clearly visible. Indeed, it is so large that I worry you may say: the book is too big and won't fit on the shelf. But… small photographs are available online, whereas in this book every spread is a pleasure in beauty and scale.
The book has two parts.
The first is short. The history of nalichniki and domestic woodcarving from the eleventh century to the present day: what came before them, how they spread and evolved, and how they were shaped by stone architecture, the Decembrist uprising, the industrial revolution, the Second World War, and much else besides.
The second occupies the bulk of the book, and is itself divided in two: a catalogue of nalichnik types, and conversations with householders recorded over the past twelve years. All sixteen regions of the Central Federal District are represented by more than one hundred and fifty nalichnik types — and as many conversations. Every spread has a pair of nalichniki on the left and a story on the right.
Cloth cover. Dust jacket.
Reader reviews
Ivan, hello! I received the book, and my gratitude to you for it is enormous — beyond enormous! It seems impossible that this unique, miraculous publication now lives in our home! Everything was beautifully packed and arrived safe and sound.
You have done titanic and deeply valuable work: gathering such rare material and finding a way to share it with people — publishing a book that is beautiful in both content and design.
And that's not all… There are many wonderful and beautiful books, but they lack warmth. Your work is literally saturated with waves of kindness, with boundless reverence for the carvers and the ordinary people in Russia's villages, hamlets and towns. On every line, in every photograph — a priceless inheritance, the memory of time itself. Thank you enormously — to you and to your creative collaborators!
Good luck, Ivan, in all your endeavours. New readers and kindred spirits. Health, strength, and high spirits.
I came back from the Ladya fair and spent the whole evening happily leafing through the nalichniki book. Bravo! It turned out vivid, fascinating — we will read every word. Thank you for such effort; the book is made with such love! My spirits lifted — we can live, if there are still such passionate, remarkable people in this country! We look forward to new books. Good luck and good health to you, kind soul!
The finest aesthetic experience of my life.
Good morning! I could barely wait for morning! Coming home, I immediately began exploring the treasures of your Pearl of Knowledge (that's what I named it). And — what a happy discovery from the very first pages! — the captions beneath the photographs, set in italics with little up-and-down arrows, are painfully reminiscent of the old layouts of the magazine Nauka i Zhizn. By page 45 another title had come to me, another name for your book: "The Science of Life, Word of Mouth".
And another thing — through the windows of the houses, you have looked into the holy of holies: the heart of the people! Thank you enormously — it reads easily and with great pleasure!
Thank you so much for this true Masterpiece! It is at once a feast for the eyes, a workout for the mind, and a balm for the Soul — reading it, studying the carved details. Thank you for your great labour ❤
You open the book and step into a fairy tale — it is simply indescribable. It proves yet again what a craftsman's nation we are! Thank you so much! I shall look forward to new editions and travel videos!
Ivan, while I'm trying to work out how to write about your book on my own page, well… there simply are no words. This is a colossal achievement. It's beyond expression. You managed what no one else managed. May God give you strength — and your family, who are your great support. You will yet accomplish so much. Your work is priceless. My whole family sends you its deepest gratitude. 💕
I received the book today. Thank you so much! This is the very best birthday present. I've abandoned everything else, and I'm sitting here reading and looking and cannot tear myself away… Thank you once again, and I wish you and your Varenka the very best of health. Will there be a sequel? — I want to take part again!
Ivan, I finally received the book. No — wait. THE BOOK! It is simply wonderful, a vast and extraordinary labour, made with such love! To read your stories on real paper — it's happiness itself. You are quite extraordinary — thank you for everything you do!
Thank you so very much for the wonderful book! I leaf through the pages, read closely, gaze at it, practically smell it! Sheer aesthetic delight.
Ivan! Congratulations on the book's success! I'm so glad for you. Nearly the whole print run has sold out. This bestseller deserves a "Book of the Year" award! Good luck, good fortune, and may all your wishes come true in the new year!
Dear Ivan, at last I can thank you for your wonderful book! It is simply magnificent — we shall leaf through it and read it as a whole family. Even our little one enjoys looking at the windows, they are so colourful! I wish you yet more nalichniki in the new year, ever more kind and good people on your path — and may everything come together and come true!
Dear Ivan! Your book is a long-awaited gift. I received it a week ago but opened it only yesterday — and realised: this year, for me, will be the Year of the Nalichnik 😊 I shall read it very slowly, page by page, savouring the indescribable beauty and the wonderful, heartfelt stories. Your book simply radiates Goodness and Love. My deepest gratitude for your enormous, incredible, beautiful labour! Health, inspiration, and energy for future projects. What happiness, that people like you exist in this world. Thank you!
Thank you so much for the books! I bow to your labour and dedication. You are the Vladimir Dal of the twenty-first century in Russian wooden architecture! The desire to gather and preserve this ephemeral wooden beauty arises in many people, but only you have managed to realise it on such a scale — and through the medium of photography. Your book and Virtual Museum are a treasury of Russian folk art! I would so love for you to create similar books about nalichniki in the Volga region, the North, and Siberia!
I first saw you and Nalichniki at the Ladya Winter's Tale fair in 2019, and it was a pre-New-Year miracle — as though your hands had given form to my own wish. We have visited some museums of wooden architecture (Suzdal, Kostroma, Myshkin, Kolomenskoye), but your idea is, for me, the most striking of all! It is the life and history of ordinary people in so many cities and villages. Thank you so very much for your work!
Ivan, good day! Yesterday I collected the book — you had sent it to Solikamsk. Thank you so much! The book is wonderful, beautiful, magnificent! But most importantly — you are contagious! A few years ago I never noticed nalichniki at all. I came across your photographs on the internet by chance — and that was that. I simply fell in love with them! I started photographing nalichniki, becoming interested in their history. It is such a pity that such beauty is disappearing… Thank you so much! People like you make our world better and kinder!
I received your book today, Ivan. I opened it and gasped. I had imagined it would be much simpler — a photo album. But it turned out to be an encyclopaedia! The texts, the photographs — everything done with intelligence, taste, and love. Thank you so very much. You have done something great and true. For the ages. I take my hat off to you.