Apron

Made in 1930 in Harbin, Manchuria, by Russian and Chinese orphans in Archbishop Nestor's orphanage. Made for Mrs. Read to wear at functions such as costume balls. "Little Russian" (Ukrainian).

An apron made of horizontal panels of embroidered cotton alternating with panels of hand-made lace. The embroidered panels are cross stitched with rayon floss in geometric designs on a solid field with blue and orange predominating. The top embroidered panel has a design consisting of alternating mint green and dark blue chevrons in an X-shape and yellow and dark blue cross-shapes pattern on an orange background. The middle embroidered panel has a design consisting of diamond shapes outlined by mint green and having a red star-cross shape within over an orange lattice work pattern on a dark blue background. The bottom embroidered panel has a design consisting of orange octagons outlined by white and having a blue eight-petalled flower within, each petal of which has a white spot. Gathered onto a dark blue rayon waistband which extends to form ties.