Lacquer boxes Page 1
In Czarist days, the small village of Palekh was celebrated for
its religious Ikon painters, and the traditions of its artists were passed
from generation to generation. The Russian revolution and the forcible
suppression of religion in the new Soviet state deprived the artists of
their work, but they adapted their skills to the creation of new
masterpieces.
Size- 7 x 5 cm (2.75 x 2 ins)
L01 Price £18.95 [Snegurochka]
Two other ancient skills were
involved. The technique of Papier-mache is an ancient art in which layers of
paper are glued together, and then dried to produce a hard and workable
surface, which can take a mirror-like finish, whilst lacquering has been handed
down from the dawn of history in the far east, and became popular in Europe in
the 17th century. These techniques had been combined in 19th
century Russia to produce exquisite trays and small boxes. The art reached its
pinnacle after the Revolution, when the incomparable Ikon painting skills of
the Palekh craftsmen were applied to the creation of a new and highly original
style of lacquer box. The characteristic features of Palekh wear include the
lustrous black finish and delicately painted figures with details picked out in
gold.
Skazka boxes
Best known of the Palekh wear is
the Skazka or Folk tale box, which takes episodes from the wonderful range of
Russian folk stories, such as Ivanushka and the Frog Princess, or the
Snegurochka
SOLD 
7 x 5cm (2.75 x 2 ins) - 7 x 5cm (2.75 x 2 ins) 7 x 5cm (2.75 x 2 ins) 7 x 5cm (2.75 x 2 ins)
L02 Price £18.95 L03 Price £18.95 L04 Price £18.95 L05 Price £18.95
[Malinka] [Frog Princess] [Snegurochka] [Malinka]