Tuesday, March 1, 2016

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. 

42 comments:

  1. Have seen some sometimes. They are very beautiful. Think my aunt had one too and I was admiring it when visited her in childhood.

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    1. Yes, these boxes are beautiful, Köögikata.

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  2. I did know about lacquer boxes because they are very popular items in shops in Alaska that celebrate that area's history as Russian America. I have a few very beautiful boxes that I bought from a wholesale salesman who sold to shops. They became more popular in this area about 20 years ago when there was a special Russian exhibit at one of the local museums. It is a treat to see gorgeous artwork from your part of the world.

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    1. Glad you know this miniature art, Peter. Of course, they were popular in Alaska as reminded its history.

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  3. Thank you for this wonderful post, Nadezda! So much beauty.
    We have some small items at home, but they are not as beautiful as these. We also have some trays with decorations like in your seventh photo, but they are not hand-painted. :)
    I would like to pin some of these photos. May I?
    Have a lovely week!

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    1. I love painted tray as well, Sara.
      Yes, you may!
      Have a nice weekend!

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  4. I have seen this technique in a museum. It lookted different, but iI like these more! Wish I had a little box with roses on it. Thanks for sharing this. Groetjes Hetty

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    1. I can imagine your little box with roses on a lid, Hetty. It must be very pretty!

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  5. I love the amount of detail in the first three boxes.

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  6. Only seen lacquer miniatures at museums, would not have known what they were called. So beautiful, love the one with the owl.

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  7. Hello dear Nadezda!!Yes i have seen those beautiful miniatures boxes in Moscow!
    And i have one in my bedroom!I will take a photo and show it in one of my next posts!Thank you for sharing!Have a happy March!!
    Dimi...

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    1. Oh, Dimi I'm glad you have such beautiful thing in your bedroom. Can't wait to see yours in next post.

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  8. My husband has been to Russia about 28 times and I have many beautiful lacquered pieces. I love them!

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  9. Nadezda,
    thank you very much for this beautiful post.
    I know that in your great country can see the real masterpieces.
    Greetings.

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  10. Oh they are amazing! What a wonderful work. I wish I would have such a small miracle!

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  11. Preciosas Nadezda son pequeñas obras de arte.
    Colecciono cajitas de cerámica de los sitios donde vamos, tengo más de 100 y algunas son auténticas maravillas con flores pintadas.
    Besos.

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    1. Quisiera ver tu coleccion Laura, debe ser muy bonita.

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  12. Hi Nadezda, these boxes used to be very popular in Norway, we had one at home when I was a child and it had very pretty roses on the lid and red felt on the inside, just like the one in your picture with the pearls. They are really beautiful all of them!
    I hope spring is arriving soon for you so you can get beautiful flowers in your garden again :-)

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    1. I do hope too Helene. I miss my garden with flowers.

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  13. These are beautiful works of art. I've never seen such lovely boxes before so thank you for sharing. :-)

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  14. Beautiful!! I love the one with the owl. I have seen some like these, but probably they are not of Russian origin. In Alaska we have artists who create miniatures like these but they intricately carve the wood, so it is a beautiful but different art form than this.

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    1. I'm glad you liked these miniatures, Mary Anne.

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  15. My husband’s cousin went to Russia several times for work and brought me back a beautiful painted box. When we went to St Petersburg the first time I bought several – one with a cat that is truly very fine. I also bought several brooches that I love wearing. When we went back to St Petersburg the second time I tried not to buy more pins, but I did get a little box again – there are so many charming boxes and other souvenirs offered in shops that it is hard to resist! That gives me an idea to get all of them together and have a post, some day.
    I looked at your back posts and enjoyed your post on Faberge very much, as well as your stunning photos.

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    1. Vagabonde, you say: it is hard to resist and not to buy. The same I can say seeing nice souvenirs in other cities, :)) I agree, you have to write a post about your lacquer miniature boxes. Can't wait to see your box with a cat!

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  16. How exquisite these are! The image of the daffodils is my favourite. What an amazing piece of art it is. The closest thing I have to these lacquered boxes would be decorative commercial tins. They aren't as unique, but many of the flower images are pretty.

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    1. There are many beautiful tins, similar to these boxes, I agree, Jennifer. And they're more cheaper than lacquered ones :)

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  17. These are beautiful! I have a brooch and some small tins similar to these, but mine, I'm afraid, are cheap imitations. Not the gorgeous works of art these are. They certainly make me think of spring!

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    1. I wait for spring as well, Rose and these days were warm, snow melted finally.

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  18. What beauties! I do love the daffodils. I have not ever seen this beautiful work anywhere. So much amazing traditional art in your country.
    Thank you for this lovely post Nadezda.
    Thank you also for commenting on my blog. I have had problems again, but now I think it is solved.
    Enjoy the week-end as you look forward to Spring.
    Betty

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    1. I'm glad you solved your problems, Betty.
      These lacquered boxes and brooches are popular souvenirs here.
      Have a nice time!

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  19. These little treasures are absolutely delightful. I have never seen one and they are new to me as an example of Russian artistry.

    I would love to own any one of them.

    I hope spring is coming to you too. We have a sunny day today and I may go out and do a little work in the garden.

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    1. I don't, the thin cover of snow is still lying in my garden, Friko. I'd like to start gardening as soon as possible.

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