Dowry

Embroidering textiles for dowry and embellishing the home and its furnishings has long been a woman's art in Central and Eastern Europe. This heritage has been passed from mother to daughter for generations in preparation for marriage and raising a family. Through the expressive work of her hands, a young woman and potential bride reveals her character in a silent language of art. It is a practical and frugal art of transforming common materials into extraordinary personal and domestic adornment. This book provides a glimpse into the distinctive beauty of Czech, Slovak and Moravian textiles and Hungarian painted wood furnishings related to the art of the dowry. Their designs relate to the natural beauty and abundant floral and animal life of such regions as the Hungarian Great Plain surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, as well as to the design influences of the many cultures that have occupied this region.--From publisher description.