he Department of Russian Folk Art demonstrates all major branches of peasant art. The basic part of the collection, formed in the 1930s - 1940s, is being completed by the annual expeditions. The Museum has investigated many districts in Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Nizhny Novgorod, Ryazan, Penza, Voronezh, Belgorod, Kirov and other Regions. The Museum shows the Volga Region house carving, Arkhangelsk roof ridges, wood-carved utensils.

Folk costumes.

The Museum preserves the largest collection of carved and painted distaffs from Yaroslavl, Kostroma, Arkhangelsk, Vologda and Tver Regions. The Museum also exhibits painting in wood, pottery, metalwork, printed textiles. The collection of folk costumes presents clothes of the central and northern regions of Russia. It includes festive and mourning costumes connected with various peasant traditions and rituals. The collection also comprises rare head-dresses of ancient shapes decorated with golden thread embroidery, mother-of-pearl, pieces of glass and spangles. The large collection representing many regions of Russia gives an opportunity of comprehensive scientific research, analysis, comparison and systematization of peasant art.