First Latvian Arts and Crafts Exhibition Latvian Chamber of Craftsmen, Riga, 1937

Exhibition Catalog, cover (unrestored) by V. Krūmiņš

The First Latvian Arts and Crafts Exhibition, I Latvijas Daiļamatniecības Izstāde, was held from the 6th of February through the 7th of March, 1937, exhibiting at the Kongresu Nams [Congress House] and Amatu Nams [Trades House] in Riga, and organized by Latvijas Amatniecības Kamera [the Latvian Chamber of Crafts and Trades].

Besides works by home artisans, craftsmen, artists, and architects, the exhibition also included historical crafts—weaving, carving, metalwork—from earlier centuries.

The comprehensive guide to the exhibit includes pictures of more than 200 objects as well as an in-depth introduction to Latvian arts and crafts:

• the purpose of the exhibition;
• an overview of the development of Latvian arts and crafts;
• the histories of Latvian ceramics,
• textiles,
• jewelry,
• and other works in metal and wood; and
• the challenges facing Latvian expression in the contemporary arts.

The catalog is reproduced here in its entirety as page images. In Latvian.

Woven Painting
A. Cīrulis

• ABOUT

• Essays
  • I Latvijas daiļamatniecības izstāde [First Latvian Arts and Crafts Exhibition], pg. 9
    Prof. R. Pelše, Izstādes techniskās komisijas priekšsēdētājs [Chairman, Exhibition Technical Commission]
  • Latviešu daiļamaniecības attīstības posmi [Development stages of Latvian arts and crafts], pg. 11
    Prof. Francis Balodis, Pieminekļu valdes priekšsēdētājs [Chairman, Cultural Monument Board]
  • Keramika Latvijā [Ceramics in Latvia], pg. 16
    Prof. R. Pelše, Latvijas mākslas akadēmijas prorektors [Vice-Chancellor, Latvian Art Academy]
  • Tekstilā māksla Latvijā [Textile Arts in Latvia], pg. 21
    Mākslinieks [Artist] A. Dzērvītis, Rīgas daiļamatniecības skolas direktors [Director, Riga School of Arts and Crafts]
  • Latviešu rotas [Latvian jewelry], pg. 27
    Dr. V. Ģinters, Valsts vēsturiskā mūzeja direktors [Director, National Museum of History]
  • Metalla un koka izstrādājumi [Metal and wood handicrafts], pg. 34
    P. Ārends, Pieminekļu valdes vecākais inspektors [Senior Inspector, Cultural Monument Board]
  • Latvisko centienu problēma mūsu mākslā [The challenge of Latvian aspirations in our art], pg. 43
    Priv.-doc. [PhD.] Jānis Siliņš [art historian and critic]
• Illustrations (80 plates, over 200 objects)
  • Laikmetiskā daiļamatniecība [Contemporary arts and crafts]
    catalog plates 1-48—captions translated
  • Latviešu senās daiļamatniecības pieminekļi [Monuments of ancient Latvian arts and crafts]
    catalog plates 49-80—captions translated
  • Color plates
    works of contemporary artists, plates (unnumbered) tipped into catalog—captions translated