Rare 1987 Soviet Book: Beauty by Your Own Hands (Folk Crafts) – S. Gazaryan | Tsar to Soviet Books

Classic Soviet Folk Craft Encyclopedia: "Beauty by Your Own Hands" by S. Gazaryan

For folk art collectors, craft instructors, and artisans, this 1987 original Soviet hardcover volume is a classic workshop guide to Eastern European decorative applied arts. Published in Moscow by Detskaya Literatura (Издательство «Детская литература»), Beauty by Your Own Hands: Folk Art Crafts (Прекрасное — своими руками: Народные художественные ремёсла) was compiled by artist Suren Gazaryan.

Bound in a black laminated hardcover featuring a stylized folk peacock emblem, this 160-page volume contains technical instruction, step-by-step workshop figures, and full-color glossy plates covering over 30 applied disciplines.

Wood Carving, Filigree, Traditional Lace & Architectural Plaster This volume brings together specialized instructional guides:

• Woodcraft & Marquetry (Резьба и маркетри): Step-by-step techniques for geometric chip carving, woodturning (точение из древесины), veneer marquetry cutting, burl harvesting (обработка капа), and birch bark filigree.

• Artistic Metalwork & Wirecraft: Detailed diagrams for repoussé and chasing (чеканка), fine filigree (филигрань), wire chainmail weaving (кольчужное плетение), and chemical metal etching.

• Textiles & Fiber Arts: Traditional Russian bobbin lace (русские кружева), loom weaving, felt rug making (войлочные ковры), fabric batik, macramé, and straw weaving (соломоплетение).

• Monumental & Decorative Finishes: Architectural plaster moldings and ceiling rosettes (лепнина, карнизы, розетки), stained glass assembly, sgraffito, and artistic bone carving.

Complete Bibliographic Specifications

• Title: Прекрасное — своими руками: Народные художественные ремёсла

• Compiler: Suren Gazaryan (С. Газарян)

• Contributing Authors: G. Fedotov, V. Baradulin, D. Chirkov, V. Ostrovsky, T. Vanyukova, N. Kanunnikova, et al.

• Series: Library for Parents (Библиотека для родителей)

• Publisher: "Detskaya Literatura" Publishing House (Москва)

• Publication Date: 1987 (Moscow, USSR)

• Language: Russian

• Binding: Original publisher's laminated graphic hardcover

• Page Count: 160 pages with full-color photographic plates and workshop diagrams

• Classification: Soviet Applied Arts / Traditional Folk Crafts / Woodworking, Metalwork & Textiles

Condition & Preservation Report

• Exterior Condition: Original laminated boards are clean, flat, and rigid with minimal handling wear along the edges and sharp cover graphics.

• Binding Integrity: Exceptionally firm, square, and tight text block with intact hinges.

• Page & Plate Quality: Interior pages, technical workshop schematics, and color photo plates are clean and unmarked, exhibiting uniform light cream age-toning typical of late-1980s Soviet art publications. Free from marginal notation, underlining, library stamps, or owner signatures.

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