Zablotska–Koval Foundation
Rushnyk
One textile. One collection. A window on Ukraine’s history.
The rushnyk: more than fabric — a witness to life
The rushnyk (рушник) is a traditional Ukrainian ritual textile, usually a long band of linen or hemp, richly embroidered. Far more than a mere decorative object, it accompanies life’s key moments: birth, marriage, religious rites or funerals. Each motif and colour carries symbolic meaning linked to protection, memory and identity. Passed down from generation to generation, the rushnyk embodies the Ukrainian cultural soul. Through this collection, the rushnyk becomes a key to reading Ukraine’s history, its ancestral symbols and its cultural resilience. This site invites research and contemplation of an art that endures through time.
The collection in figures
- 418
- Pieces collected and catalogued
- 1
- Ethnographic regions represented
- 17th–20th c.
- Centuries of textile history
A foundation to preserve and carry Ukraine’s history
The Zablotska-Koval Foundation was born of an urgent need: to safeguard a living heritage as witnesses of rural life and ancestral know-how fade away. This project goes beyond material conservation alone. By digitising these works, we make the invisible accessible. Our approach rests on three pillars: Document: build a scientific database for researchers and conservators. Transmit: make the complex symbolism of rushnyky understandable for the public. Reach out: work with museums worldwide so these textiles become ambassadors of Ukrainian culture.
Discover the foundation’s story