A Costume For Visiting The President

A Bārta folk costume. Made in Latvia in the 1930s.

This almost ethnographically accurate folk costume from the Bārta region was made as a gift. It was given to Milda Aparnieks (1902–1985) by her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Artūrs Aparnieks, who had both the folk costume and the silver brooches custom made by master artisans. This folk costume was worn for the first time when Milda went to a reception at Riga Castle with President Kārlis Ulmanis. Milda carefully kept the folk costume throughout her life, taking it with her when she fled Latvia, and later, to Brazil. In 1966 the folk costume and its owner moved to San Francisco, USA.

Donated by Aija Švāns, Ināra Aparnieks Burr, Māra Escajeda; from the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre (LP2015.122)

Milda Aparnieks wearing her Bārta folk costume in the 1930s, in Latvia. Donated by Ināra Aparnieks Burr. From the collection of the Latvians Abroad Museum and Research Centre.