How do you identify Russian lacquer boxes?
The box should not have seams that show. Look for a grid pattern on the bottom or sides of the box that indicates a machine pressed argalite box. Examine the painting with a magnifying glass to identify “cutouts,” and the many tiny “dots” that make up a photo decoupage. Look for any cracks in the lacquer.
What are Russian lacquer boxes?
Russian lacquer boxes are painted by such artists like Kritov, Zotov, Solodilov and many other famous artists. The Russian boxes are considered the prime Russian gifts and souveniers that are famous world-wide. Russian boxes come in such unqiue shapes such as mushrooms, furniture, or custom shaped papier-mâché.
Where are Russian lacquer boxes made?
Historically, workshops in the villages of Fedoskino, Palekh, Kholui, and Mstera have been the primary producers of Russian lacquer boxes. Each village is known for its distinctly recognizable style, although thematic considerations greatly vary.
What are Russian lacquer boxes used for?
Russian lacquer boxes are among the most beautiful and distinctive of that country’s art achievements in the 20th century. 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.
How are Russian lacquer boxes made?
Russian lacquer boxes are made from papier-mache, layers of cardboard glued together and tightly compressed. When it is still wet, the papier-mache is pressed into shapes for making boxes: flat panels and curved pieces. After the box is joined, it is covered in primer, to get it ready for the lacquering stage.
What is a Russian box?
Explore Russian and Eastern European cultures through authentic Russian, Soviet, Slavic and Eastern European lifestyle items and snacks! Each snack box consists of carefully selected items sent directly to your door, every month!
What do you put in a lacquer box?
Lacquerware includes small or large containers, tableware, a variety of small objects carried by people, and larger objects such as furniture and even coffins painted with lacquer.
Why is Urushi lacquer so expensive?
Once applied on an object, lacquer is dried under very precise conditions: a temperature between 25 and 30°C and a humidity level between 75 and 80%. Its harvesting and highly technical processing make urushi an expensive raw material applied in exceptionally fine successive layers, on objects such as bowls or boxes.
What does a Russian lacquered miniature box look like?
feature extraordinarily detailed miniature art. A Russian lacquered miniature box is a hand painted papier-mâché box that is delicately coated with many layers of lacquer until it attains the hardness and sturdiness of wood. The boxes have a flawless gleaming finish inside and out.
Where was the first lacquer box made in Russia?
Fedoskino, a village near Moscow, established the first school and museum of lacquer miniature art in 1795 and remains one of the four centers of lacquer-box production in Russia, followed by schools in Palekh, Mstera. and Kholui villages, which were originally schools of icon painting.
What makes a Russian lacquer box sound different?
Take the time to handle a few authentic boxes and you will learn to feel the difference. ** see Note. Sound: Tap the bottom of the box with a fingernail or tap the lid gently closed. Wood boxes sound “sharp” or “harsh,” and plastic or argalite also gives off a louder “click” when tapped.
What kind of box is made of lacquer?
Russian lacquered boxes, also known as lacquer boxes, feature extraordinarily detailed miniature art. A Russian lacquered miniature box is a hand painted papier-mâché box that is delicately coated with many layers of lacquer until it attains the hardness and sturdiness of wood. The boxes have a flawless gleaming finish inside and out.