A mushko is an Udmurt birch bark cradle for carrying infants on the back. After giving birth, the woman returned to work on the fields just a few days later and took the baby with her. The baby cradle from the exhibition of the Glazov Museum was in use in the early 20th century in the Glazovsky district of the Vyatka Governorate.
The baby carrier with straps that went across the back was woven and sewn from birch bark and bast. Birch bark is the outermost layer of birch trees, which was extensively used in Rus for building, crafting, creative activities and writing. Birch bark was an affordable material and had excellent properties. It was rot-proof, easy to bend, lightweight and durable. It provided good protection from moisture and had high heat-insulating capacity. After treatment, it remained soft and served as a natural antiseptic.
The back side of the Udmurt cradle was higher than the other sides. With the help of straps, the cradle was tightly secured on the mother’s back. The load was distributed evenly, which helped the woman to walk straight, and her hands remained free for work. The visor of the cradle protected the child from direct sunlight, and the birch bark let in air well. The mother also used a cover to protect the baby from insects and rain — it could be a specially sewn curtain, a thick canvas or a woman’s apron. Along the edge, the cover was trimmed with strips of silk embroidery and a red thread was run through it — it was a talisman to ward off the evil eye.
In his research paper, the archaeologist and ethnographer Nikolay Grigorievich Pervukhin wrote about the major role of the mushko in the life of the Udmurts, “The Votsk (Udmurt) women carry a small child in a mushko everywhere: to the fields to work, to church, and to call on neighbors.” In addition to the birch bark mushkos, Udmurt families had various devices for caring for children: several types of cradles (keky, zybka), baby carriers, beds, high chairs, baby walkers, and toys.
After the birch-bark cradle, as soon as the baby started to sit down, it was carried in a soft knapsack — a nypyete. It was a woven backpack that could have been quickly sewn from a tablecloth or a bedspread. Belts were used to make straps. The nypyete was a forerunner of modern ergonomic baby carriers and slings that allow the mother and the baby to stay together at all times and lead an active lifestyle.
The baby carrier with straps that went across the back was woven and sewn from birch bark and bast. Birch bark is the outermost layer of birch trees, which was extensively used in Rus for building, crafting, creative activities and writing. Birch bark was an affordable material and had excellent properties. It was rot-proof, easy to bend, lightweight and durable. It provided good protection from moisture and had high heat-insulating capacity. After treatment, it remained soft and served as a natural antiseptic.
The back side of the Udmurt cradle was higher than the other sides. With the help of straps, the cradle was tightly secured on the mother’s back. The load was distributed evenly, which helped the woman to walk straight, and her hands remained free for work. The visor of the cradle protected the child from direct sunlight, and the birch bark let in air well. The mother also used a cover to protect the baby from insects and rain — it could be a specially sewn curtain, a thick canvas or a woman’s apron. Along the edge, the cover was trimmed with strips of silk embroidery and a red thread was run through it — it was a talisman to ward off the evil eye.
In his research paper, the archaeologist and ethnographer Nikolay Grigorievich Pervukhin wrote about the major role of the mushko in the life of the Udmurts, “The Votsk (Udmurt) women carry a small child in a mushko everywhere: to the fields to work, to church, and to call on neighbors.” In addition to the birch bark mushkos, Udmurt families had various devices for caring for children: several types of cradles (keky, zybka), baby carriers, beds, high chairs, baby walkers, and toys.
After the birch-bark cradle, as soon as the baby started to sit down, it was carried in a soft knapsack — a nypyete. It was a woven backpack that could have been quickly sewn from a tablecloth or a bedspread. Belts were used to make straps. The nypyete was a forerunner of modern ergonomic baby carriers and slings that allow the mother and the baby to stay together at all times and lead an active lifestyle.
