Ethnography Division – Latvijas Nacionālais vēstures muzejs

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Ethnography Division

The Ethnography Division preserves and gathers museum items and documentary evidence of the traditional lifestyle, occupations and traditions of the indigenous peoples of Latvia, as well as folk art, handicrafts and parts of traditional clothing pertaining to the period from the 18^th century to the present day. Another task of the Ethnography Division is to document evidence of daily life in Latvia on the museum’s digital platform “Stories of Latvian Families” (emuzejs.lnvm.lv/stasti).

The ethnographic collections contain around 105,000 objects. The special value of this outstanding collection of ethnographic items and applied folk art of Latvia are objects made and used in the 17^th–18^th centuries, reflecting traditions whose origins go back even further.

The department specialists scientifically document, exhibit and publish their respective collections in catalogues and scientific literature, as well as ensure the preservation of ethnographic objects.

Head of the Ethnography Division Sanita Zvidra

sanita.zvidra@lnvm.lv

Clothing and textile collection

The LNMH clothing and textile collection is the most extensive collection of traditional folk textiles, which has provided and continues to provide the basis for research of Latvian and Liv clothing. The collection contains almost 25,000 items.

Tools and household objects collection

LNMH tools and household objects collection contains over 10,000 wooden and metal objects made in the 18^th–20^th centuries. The collection reflects the life and work of a 19^th-century Latvian farmer in the most comprehensive way. The collection’s objects also give an insight into 20^th-century decorative and applied arts.

Manuscripts, drawings, photographs and documents collection

The Manuscripts, Drawings, Photographs and Documents Collection (ZAE) holds over 50,000 items. The oldest were acquired in preparation for the 1896 Latvian Ethnographic Exhibition in Riga. To obtain the exhibits for the exhibition, the Riga Latvian Society organised 11 expeditions, during which more than 300 photographs were acquired, in addition to the material objects.

Ceramics collection

The LNMH holds one of the oldest and largest ceramics collections in Latvia. The extensive collection of over 5,000 objects includes both household vessels – jugs, bowls, plates, salt cellars, sugar bowls, milk, jam and honey pots, pitchers and mugs – as well as decorative ceramics – candlesticks, vases, wall plates and small ceramic items.

Jewellery collection

The LNMH jewellery collection is the largest collection of traditional 17^th–19^th-century jewellery made and used in the territory of Latvia. It is valuable material evidence of jewellery in folk clothing and the rituals and celebrations of traditional lifestyle. The collection contains about 2,700 items: brooches, the so-called double-button brooches, beads and rings.