The Vitaly Aleksandrovich Zakrutkin Memorial Museum showcases a decorative wooden wall plate presented to the writer by his fellow countrymen from the Rostov Fruit and Vegetable Association for his 70th birthday. Friends, relatives, and admirers of Zakrutkin sought to please him on his birthday with meaningful gifts that were connected to important moments in his life. One such gift is this decorative plate, crafted from a large piece of wood, which depicts a scene from Cossack everyday life.
The scene depicted on the plate illustrates the annual harvest festival celebrated among peasants in the fall. The Cossack is presumably on his way to the autumn festival in his stanitsa, having loaded a cart with vegetables, fruits, and melons. This imagery highlights the wealth and generosity of the Don region and its abundant rewards for the hard work of its farmers.
The Cossack is holding a little keg of fresh wine, harkening back to the Cossacks’ long history of winemaking in the Don region, which took off under Peter the Great. Back in the Soviet era, Don wines gained wide fame throughout the Soviet Union. The Cossack depicted on the plate bears the features of Vitaly Zakrutkin — a cheerful, lively man who was always welcoming to others. The writer believed that “only work brings true happiness, extends life, and instills the confidence that future generations, benefiting from a person’s efforts, will remember him kindly and call him the Creator!“
Vitaly Zakrutkin was a creative person not only in literature; he also grew trees, flowers, lilac bushes, and grapes, and was involved in construction. Following his father’s footsteps, he developed a passion for wood carving, transforming snags found in the forest or along the banks of the Don River into useful items such as candlesticks, flower stands, spoons, and bookshelves. He often gifted these original creations to his friends, who appreciated his craftsmanship. Some of these items are now part of the museum collection.
This unusual plate, depicting a harvest festival, was presented to Vitaly Zakrutkin for his 70th birthday and continues to capture the attention of visitors.
