Lacquer Flower Miniature

Lacquer miniature is a Russian folk handicraft of miniature painting which is made with tempera paints or multi-layer oil painting on the primed papier-mache surface with special lining. There are small treasure boxes, powder boxes, beads boxes, caskets, pens, brooches and etc. I discovered Lacquer miniatures in my childhood when I was given a small box for pens, it was unusual and covered with bright flower paintings. 

 
I often saw miniatures in souvenirs shops, they always amazed me. In this post I show you some of lacquer flower miniatures and lacquer miniatures 'three horse riding (troika)' painted on box lids and brooches.

 
Most of boxes have a black background on the outside and are covered inside with scarlet or bright-red lacquer. Some boxes have elaborate gold or silver ornamentation applied in fine lines throughout the painting. Intricate decorative borders often cover the surface of the lids and sides of the box completely.

Now there are two Russia's oldest center of lacquer miniature painting, they are villages of Fedoskino and Palekh, located to the north from Moscow. Lacquer boxes are usually signed with the village name, year of production and the name of the artist. The exquisite, highly detailed miniatures are called "small miracles" and they are on a great demand among the collectors throughout the world.

Today is the calendar first spring day and looking at flower lacquer miniatures I am hoping to see soon flowers, butterflies, birds, insects in my garden!  
Have you before known about lacquer miniatures? Do you have any of lacquer boxes or brooches at your home?

P.S. click to enlarge the image.