We purchase our Russian lacquered boxes in Bulgaria, sister nation to Russia, where the boxes were created. They are made at several key centers in Russia, and each center uses one of the two varieties of lacquer painting, using oils or tempera, on papier-mache boxes. The Fedoskino tradition derives from Russian classical painting and miniatures of the 18th and early 19th centuries and the Russian folk arts. Three to four layers of oil paint are applied, each being dried and coated with a transparent lacquer, before the entire work is polished. The several layers of painting result in a tonal richness and glowing of the colors. The paints are applied in thick opaque layers and in “through-painting” with translucent paints over an under-layer of gold leaf or mother of pearl which makes the colors seem to sparkle from within. Gold, silver, and bronze powders were often employed instead of gold leaf. Such multiple layers of painting are one of the striking features of the Fedoskino miniature.
Palekh became a center of lacquer miniature painting after the Revolution when hereditary professional icon-painters, left without work following the persecution of the church and of believers, joined together. In their striving to save their craft, the masters at Palekh creatively reworked the icon-painting tradition to meet the new demands for such decorative objects. They began to draw on images and themes from folklore and from Pushkin’s fairy tales in order to establish their own style of miniature painting. This was distinguished by its black background and a new conception of space that lacked any horizon. As well as the striking contrast between intense and resonant tones, the Palekh miniature also typically exhibits a delicate blending and flow of half-tones. The masters of Palekh know how to give the paints a special glow and endow the image with a lyrical force. Most of our Russian lacquered boxes are from the Palekh center.
The Russian lacquered boxes depicted here are meant to be examples of the types and sizes of boxes that we carry. We have many more in stock, so feel free to with your inquiries.
Russian Lacquered Box 26 Floral Kholui School 1" x 1" x 1" $68.00 Inquire about other similar boxes
Russian Lacquered Box 27 Girl and Boy with Cat Fedoskino School
1" x 1" x 1"
$176.00 Sold Inquire about other similar boxes
Russian Lacquered Boxes 24/25 Floral/Burgundy with Aquablue Motera School 2" x 1 1/2" x 1" $58.00 each Inquire about other similar boxes
Russian Lacquered Box 14 Triumphal Entry 3" x 2 1/4" x 1 1/2" $115.00 Inquire about other similar boxes
Russian Lacquered Box 23 Madonna and Child 2 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1" $87.50 Sold Inquire about other similar boxes
Russian Lacquered Box 18 Madonna and Child 2" x 1 1/2" x 1" $70.00 Inquire about other similar boxes
