DEVELOPMENT OF LACE MAKING IN TAMBOV PROVINCE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE XIX - FIRST THIRD OF THE XX CENTURY

Evolution of the lace craft in Tambov Province in post-reform time and the period of the New Economic Policy is considered in the article. The centres of lacemaking in Tambov Province, both during the Tsarist Russia and the New Economic Policy period, were Ishchenskaya, Krasninskaya, Troekurovskaya and Cherepanskaya volosts of Lebedyansky (and after administrative reorganization of the province - Lipetsky) district. The main problem faced by lacemakers was the destructive activity of buyers. During monopolising the market, they were forcing needlewomen to operate at a loss. In pre-revolutionary Russia artisans were supported at different levels. Two allRussian homemade exhibitions were organised at the state level. Tambov zemstvo held a number of exhibitions, established lace schools and opened a craft store. A great contribution to the development of the craft was made by local patrons of the arts. However, despite considerable support, problems of local lacemakers could not be solved. When the Bolsheviks came to power it was observed that the artisanal lace production completely disappeared during the period of war communism, and only revived during the New Economic Policy period. The activities of buyers still had a negative impact on the development of lacemaking. The course taken to cooperate with artisans, which was supposed to solve this problem, ultimately failed, without achieving the desired result. The All-Russia agricultural and trade show, organized in 1923, was not a success either, since the handicrafts industry had not yet been able to recover and there was almost nothing to show. The revival of the craft was adversely affected by the persecution of the Tambov landowners who were engaged in patronage of the arts. In the end, the Bolshevik leadership also failed to solve the problems that were hindering the handicraft industry.