Large Khokhloma Spoon A

$10

Length: 19cm

Khokhloma

Khokhloma is a traditional Russian Art, beginning in the seventeenth century. Khokhloma is also the name of a large village in former Semenovsky district on the bank of the Volga River in central Russia. Craftsmen from nearby villages traditionally brought their handicraft wares there for sale. Merchants bought up the attractive goods to resell them at fairs in other Russian towns and abroad. Thus this territory is rich in history and original culture.

Khokhloma painting amazes you with its delicate grass pattern and festive colouring, which is based on a combination of scarlet, cinnabar and gold against the black lacquer background. This is a Khokhloma specific feature. Masters traditionally used tin powder and lacquer to obtain such a rich gold color. Today they use aluminum powder.

Historically, Khokhloma production was not on a large scale because of the high expense of imported tin. In the 1720's after the end of the Great Northern War the tin flow to Russian increased. The prices went down and the material came within reach of many masters. The production and sale of brightly painted wood-ware expanded. The high level of trade in the 17th and 18th centuries proved that the beauty of Khokhloma wood-ware was highly valued. In the second and third decades of the 19th century Khokhloma craftsmen made several innovations. They started to gild not only parts but the whole surface and covered their bowls and cups with intricate grass painting. These improvements brought greater success to this folk craft. The articles were acclaimed at many shows and exhibitions.

Now there are few small factories that still work to create the unforgettable beauty of traditional Russian wooden souvenirs. Articles with Khokhloma ornamentation combine a range of valuable utilitarian properties (they are resistant to hot temperature and moisture). Golden Khokhloma is a piece of beauty, always and everywhere!