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We have already completed one the most unusual collections of our museum – applications to become a member of the National Union of Calligraphers. Every applicant had to write a manifest in his own calligraphy style. This is a visit card for every master demonstrating his skills and sense of taste. That is why every applicant tries its best to make the most beautiful and unusual application.
Maybe the most exceptional application was made by Yury Koverdyaev. He has written a classical chelobitnaya in Old Slavonic. It is made on birchbark following the original samples of the 16th century. Yury Koverdyaev has reproduced the true script and graphic elements of those days. Even the style of the old Russian language was carefully treated.
Calligraphy on the birchbark is one of the styles Mr. Koverdyaev uses in his art. Treating the birchbark is a labour-intensive process. To get the birchbark you should find an old dry birch tree and unbark it with the hatchet. Then operating with a pincer and a magnifier you have to delete the surface. When the so-called “rose” layer is seen, the birchbark has to be drenched and put under press.
Our birchbark chelobitnaya is quite a big art piece: 30x70 cm. Ragged edges and many knots contrasting the delicately worked capitals and frostwork add refinement to the artwork.
This art piece will be available at the II International exhibition of calligraphy together with many other artistic applications.
A chelobitnaya (application) is distinguished by a fixed form, that was not changed with the time. Usually it started with an appeal to the Tsar (it was called “make obeisance”). Further the applicant told about himself (historians think that this information depended on the social ladder of an applicant). The document had to be finished with the obligatory phrase “signed by” and signature.
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