Dacha: The Soviet Country Cottage
- Description
- Ethical sourcing
An astonishing photographic record of a form of wooden architecture rapidly vanishing from the post-Soviet landscape
A dacha is a country house, made of wood, used by Soviet citizens to escape the rigors of the city for a rural idyll. Widespread in the countries of the former USSR, this important cultural and architectural form has been largely ignored academically. In Dacha, Fyodor Savintsev documents this particularly Russian phenomenon. His photographs constitute a unique record of a rapidly vanishing fairy-tale wooden world.
The word "dacha" has been used to describe constructions ranging from grand imperial villas to small sheds. Originally bestowed by the Tsar to reward courtiers, this custom continued following the revolution, with Soviet cooperatives building dachas for their members. Supposedly for the benefit of laborers, in reality they were destined for those favored by the State, including famous writers, architects and artists from Pasternak to Prokofiev. The fall of the Soviet Union accelerated their use, as economic uncertainty forced city dwellers toward self-sufficiency.
The dacha tradition has survived revolution, war and the collapse of Communism, becoming an integral part of life in the process. Using contemporary photographs to showcase these uniquely individual buildings for the first time, alongside an introduction explaining their historical and cultural context, Dacha is the only publication of its kind.
Metals -
Lundeen jewelry uses reclaimed and recycled gold, silver, and platinum. Whether casting, fabrication, or CAD, Lundeen Jewelry uses 100% recycled precious metals unless otherwise noted. The scrap is predominantly in the form of unwanted jewelry, jewelry processing scrap and is provided by one of our trusted refiners.
Gemstones & Diamonds -
Lundeen Jewelry uses fairmined, traceable, and conflict-free colored gemstones whenever possible. We have numerous trusted sources and a variety of gemstones working with the collective - Ethical Gem suppliers
Lundeen jewelry uses recycled, Canadian mined, family heirloom diamonds. The sourcing depends on the projects and we are happy to discuss any details before the project.