russian collection hand painted lacquer boxes

Sometimes, an underlay of gold leaf or mother of pearl enhances this radiance and adds a lovely iridescence of its own.īoxes from Palekh might well enjoy the highest world-wide acclaim. This layering brings out a radiant quality in the drawings and the colors seem to emanate from within. Three to four layers of the oil paints, along with seven coats of lacquer, are applied to each box before it is completed. They also use oil paints for their drawings instead of the egg-based temperas. Each village also has its unique style.Īrtists from Fedoskino, the birthplace of Russian lacquer miniatures, use a more realistic style of painting than the other villages. Special schools have been established at these places where artists train for four years before they become members of each village's art community.

Above, you can catch a glimpse of one of these villages, Palekh.

The boxes most widely sought after come from one of four small Russian villages - Palekh, Fedoskino, Kholui, and Mstera. Artists will typically use strong magnifying glasses on these spots and very fine brushes made out of a squirrel's tail. Lacquer artists must not only excel artistically, but must also have the patience to spend long stretches of time working on the many small intricate sections of their composition. The lacquer box sitting on your mantel today will likely be enjoyed by many generations.īut it's the miniature paintings that bring real value to the boxes. It can take as long as two months to make a box out of papier-mache, a material many artists prefer because of its ability to withstand changes in atmospheric conditions and to avoid cracking. The boxes, which vary in size, are extremely well crafted. Coats of clear lacquer, or varnish, are the last layers to be put on and provide a stunning shine to the box. They get their name from the many layers of lacquer (most often, black and red) that are applied to both their outside and inside sections. The boxes feature intricately hand-drawn miniature paintings based on a variety of themes, including fairy tales, poems, country life, troikas, landscapes, battle scenes, and old art masterpieces. Russian lacquer boxes are among the most beautiful and distinctive of that country's art achievements in the 20th century. History of Lacquer Art The Making of a Lacquer Box Lacquer Art Authenticity and the russian villages of Fedoskino, Palekh, Kholui, and Mstera

Russian collection hand painted lacquer boxes