Reyzele Paper lacework Form 11-a Malik Katherine Adviser : Iryna Fridman
HistoryEveryone knows, that the first sheet of paper
was invented in China (2 century B.C.) and the first ornament, that was clipped off of paper had also appeared there. However, only magnates could afford this kind of ornament, because paper wasn’t a cheap material.
In the 7-th century B.C. the art of paper cutting began to spread abroad. Firstly, it came to Japan and then, along the Silk Road to other countries of Eurasia.
This art has very fast and became native in some countries. In 19-20 century, when it was very easy to get paper, literally in every village in houses (on the walls, ceilings, windows) you could see the ornaments, cut from paper. They had different names everywhere.
Ukraine – vitinanki
Russia – virezanki
Belarus – vitsepianki
China – Tszianchji
Lithuania – popieriaus karpiniai
Poland - wycinanka
Poland
Japan
The Name
Reyzele – translated from Yiddish means “rosette”
Rose (shoshana) is one of the
symbols of Jewish nation. The
love to God is often called rose.
The beloved girl is also often
called a rose. And in those
times, when the Jewish
population of Western Europe
took over the art of clipping off
of paper, the girls mostly were doing it. Here is the connection.
California, the end of ХХ century
Symbolics
If something from other nations appears in Jewish culture, this something
never ever can break the canons of Jewish tradition.
For example, there is a taboo on picturing human being, on Reyzele you’ll never see it.
It is clear, that the bunch
of grapes, from the
Promised Land was
carried by people, not by
Philippine monkeys, but
when you can’t picture
people – you turn to
animals.
Each time Jewish masters take something from the surrounding nations, they try to add something own.
The symbol of New
Zealand is a small bird
kiwi. In this Reyzele the
New Zealand and Jewish
culture are connected.
We can understand it
from the seven-branched
candlestick
(menorah), typical
symbol of Israel.
Master-class
You’ll need:
A piece of coloured paper
A piece of black paper (or
just dark)
A knife for paper (stationery
knife will do it)
A pencil
Fold the paper twice
Paint whatever
we will paint. The
main thing is that
details must be
connected, anoth
er way they will
simply drop out.
Cut the painted part. Unwrap
Put the glue on the piece of black
paper.
It is best to use a glue stick.
We put the glue on the Reyzele,
because otherwise it will live the prints
on the black paper.
Which of the symbols below the most often appear in Reyzele, indigenously Jewish?
None of these symbols are Jewish