Russian Crafts 101

Hello, there. I thought it might be fun to learn a little more about some Russian crafts. Sometimes, it's hard to know whether a design is part of a time-honored tradition or just something pretty. So, here are three Russian painting and craft styles that we might want to be on the lookout for:

Zhostovo: This Russian craft of painting flowers on metal trays has been around since the early 19th century. The most common design is a bouquet of wild and garden flowers on a black background. The tray's edges are decorated with a gold design called uborka. When the paint has dried, the tray is given a bright shine with layers of lacquer. The pin shown above is painted in the Zhostovo style.

Khokhloma: An art form that began in the 17th century. Here, items carved from wood are decorated with a red, black, and gold berry design. The craft had begun to fade away by the early 20th century, but was given new life during Soviet rule. In the 1960s, the Soviets built two factories dedicated to Khokhloma production, the Khokhloma Painter and Khokhloma Painting. The two have since become Russia's largest producers of Khokhloma collectibles. The nesting doll pictured above is painted in the Khokhloma style.

Gzhel: The Russian village of Gzhel has been renowned for its pottery since the 14th century. Located to the southeast of Moscow, Gzhel has been producing white ceramics with brilliant blue floral designs since 1802. These ceramics share their name with the village. The wooden egg shown above is painted in the Gzhel style.


Okay, now go wow your friends with your new Russian knowledge!

Adiós,

Amy
www.GoldenCockerel.com

PS: Questions? Comments? Email me at Amy@GoldenCockerel.com or leave a comment here at the blog.