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History Of Russian Crafts
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The people of Russia have developed a very strong tradition of creating exquisite handmade products of the finest quality. Most of their Russian folk art is very detailed, beautiful and colorful and requires a high level of skill and creativity. Many Russians continue to pass beloved works of art and Russian handcrafts down from generation to generation. Tourists who visit the country often bring back some of the unique Russian handicrafts to remember their trip or to present as a special gift. We're going to discuss some of the traditional Russian crafts that remain popular as a gift, a Russian souvenir or a treasured family heirloom.
Matryoshka Nesting Dolls
One of the most common forms of Russian folk art is the delightful Matryoshka stacking or nesting dolls. These small wooden dolls come in all shapes and designs, and they open up to reveal many smaller figures that all fit into each other. The designs may be hand painted or burned with a hot needle, and the more detailed versions can take several months to complete. Although most traditional nesting dolls contain 5 to 30 smaller dolls, some specialized sets are created with more than 50 individual figures. Children and adults alike continue to be enchanted by these amusing and remarkable dolls.
Faberge Eggs
Another popular type of Russian crafts is the magnificent Easter eggs called Faberge eggs. These miniature masterpieces are very ornate and always contain hidden surprises decorated with precious gems, enamel and gold. The history of the eggs is as fascinating as each work of art. A Russian jeweler named Peter Carl Faberge was commissioned by the Czar, Alexander III to create a special gift for his wife. Faberge presented a handcrafted egg decorated with rubies, diamonds and gold.
The ruler was so impressed that he asked Faberge to create a new egg each year that was presented at Easter and bestowed to his wife. The tradition continued with Faberge creating eggs for Alexander's successor, Nicholas II. This skilled artisan also created several eggs for a famous Russian miner named Alexander Kelch. A total of 69 Faberge eggs were created – 54 of these are Imperial eggs given to the ruling monarchs of the time. These luxurious Faberge eggs continue to delight museum visitors worldwide and fetch very high prices by avid art collectors.
Samovar
Samovar is another form of Russian handcrafts that is an important part of authentic Russian tea culture. A samovar is a traditional metal container used to heat water for making tea. The first samovar factory opened in a town called Tula in 1778. The popularity of this Russian item quickly grew with many new manufacturing plants emerging. Although the shape and production technology has changed, the beauty and appeal of the samovar has not.
Golden Khokhloma
This type of Russian folk art refers to a very unique art form. Golden khokhloma is a process of gilding wooden kitchen utensils, dishes and decorative objects such as vases and furniture without using actual gold. Golden khokhloma is famous for its beautiful ornamental patterns, lightness and durability, and it has remained popular worldwide for many centuries.
Gzhel Porcelain
Ghzel porcelain is another important part of Russian handcrafts. This distinctive form of Russian porcelain is hand created and hand painted with bright cobalt blue designs on a pure white background. Talented artists create expressive and lifelike figures, vibrant floral designs and remarkable geometric patterns. Many of the artistic shapes and fancy decorative objects are extremely detailed. Gzhel porcelain continues to be created in 6 production centers near Gzhel, a town almost 50 kilometers from Moscow. The fact that every piece is handcrafted and unique only adds to the appeal of this traditional form of Russian crafts.
Lomonosov Porcelain
Hand crafted and hand painted porcelain containing rich gold, white and blue designs is another very traditional form of Russian folk art. This type of art is called Lomonosov porcelain and it dates back many centuries. The Lomonosov Imperial Porcelain Factory was first established back in 1744. During this time, a talented Russian named Dimitry Vinogradov created fine porcelain that was very similar to the delicate bone china of the Orient. The richly decorated and painted objects used to be produced for royalty only, although the Lomonosov factory continues to create beautiful works of art today. Each piece of Lomonosov porcelain will contain an identifying stamp on the bottom that validates its authenticity. Because every piece is hand crafted and hand painted, you are guaranteed to own a unique piece of Russian history if you purchase one. This type of Russian crafts remains very popular as traditional gifts and Russian souvenirs.
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