Museum complex

The tailboard of telega (the wain)

Author of painting Ya.Yarygin
Northern Dvina, Permgorie
Middle of XIX century
Wood, tempera, carving, painting
32,5 х 96, 5 cm
From old receipts, 1897
Showcase 1

The term ZADOK (tail) was traditionally referred to a rear suspended part of any vehicle both wheeled and on runners. The exhibition presents the tailboard of the wain.
The TELEGA (similar to a wain) is one of the oldest types of wheeled vehicles. In Russia, it was very common in all social strata of society for a long time. Telegas (wains) were used to move goods and passengers; for drivers’ races; as town transportation as well as for tours and special visits. This type of transport has gained popularity because of it was practical, reliable and convenient.
In the XIX century the telega (wain) remained in use actually only in peasants’ life. But even at that time it maintained its archaic forms and traditional design. The wain consisted of a body mounted on a wheeled chassis. At the front of chassis was an axis with two wheels and two (upper and lower) "pads", flexibly joined by a metal rod (pivot) enabling the cart to make slight turns. At the back chassis also consisted of an axis with wheels, two "pads", but fixed rigidly. Wheel axles were joined by two beams placed on the top pads. The body frame was mounted on the beams (often in the form of several upward arcs), which then were upholstered by boards or bast. In the rearest arc of the frame sometimes was inserted a Board-panel. It and two "pads" (also located in the hind of the wain), as the most accessible to view, were decorated with carving and bright color painting, especially if telega (the wain) was used in festive rides.
Such rear board of the wain as an example of folk art painting is preserved in the Historical Museum. The rear of telega is decorated with extremely colorful painting made by a talented Pyerm artist Yakov Yarygin. In the center of this scenic composition in an arc-shaped frame are painted facing each other a lion and a unicorn standing on their hind legs (these heraldic figures represent an old tradition to place symbols of the bride and the groom on the wedding carriages). On the sides of the frame are depicted elegant horsemen on rearing horses. The composition is complemented by a floral ornament that fills the entire field of the panel. Festive mood, colorful, finely executed composition clearly demonstrates the talent and skill of Yakov Yarygin. Horsemen as if accompany the peasant’s wedding wagon and heraldic figures seem embedded in the escort of the Bridal train.
Yarygin painted dishes, spinning wheels, chests, boxes, cradles, even sleds for riding downhill. Some of them now are especially valuable Museum exhibits. The painted tailboard of telega (the wain) is not just a unique example of work of an outstanding craftsman, but also part of the festive carriage of the middle of the XIX century, which, unfortunately, is not preserved in one piece.

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