Crochet-decorated Liturgical Textiles in Latgale in the End of the 19th and in the 20th Century

The study covers liturgical textiles in Latgale. The paper focuses on one of the more widespread and little-researched techniques, i.e. crochet. The material analysis is based on 260 crochet-decorated liturgical textile samples collected in Latgale, which allows one gain a deeper insight into the execution of the white clothing of Catholic priests (the alb and the surplice) and altar coverings as well as involving local women in the making of these textiles, and further influence of this on the creation of household textiles within the local communities. This study applies methods such as material classification, cultural and historical, as well as statistical methods.