Lacquer box Fedoskino
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Fedoskino miniature represents a unique type of souvenir products. That is a traditional form of Russian lacquer painting on papier-mache.
Outstanding miniatures appeared in the village of Fedoskino near Moscow in the late 18th century. Detailed portraits and story scenes made with oil paints in the classical tradition of painting are well-known in Russia and abroad.
The factory of Lukutins was famous for manufacturing papier-mache snuffboxes, small chests, tea-caddies and Easter eggs, made with the help of technology adopted in Germany. These products were popular among members of the imperial family. Thus, the Lukutins had the right to impress a seal of the double-headed eagle, the emblem of the Russian Empire, upon their boxes.
The manufacturing process includes several stages and can be described as painstaking and time-consuming. Each stage involves manual work exclusively.
All boxes are made of wooden cardboard. First, cardboard sheets are covered with glue. Next, the material is wrapped around a mold form, depending on the width of a box side, and put under the press. Then, the future product is lowered into the boiling linseed oil, followed by its drying in the stove. The final result does not differ from natural wood and can be cut and turned on the woodwork machine. The product is repeatedly primed, glazed and polished to obtain a perfectly smooth surface.
Many boxes are lacquered inside and outside in imitation tortoise-shell, birch bark, mahogany or tartan. At least thirty layers of lacquer are applied. Each layer of lacquer requires a long-lasting procedure of drying. Due to these numerous lacquer layers, the image on the box is well-preserved. There are stories about Fedoskino boxes, found in sunken vessels and looking as new ones.
When the box is ready for painting, it’s time for professional artists to perform their part. Careful drawing of each element, black glimmering background, transparent colors, light highlights, a stunning glow effect make up a famous box, that is a true gem in the collection of art lovers and connoisseurs.
The use of metal powders, leaf-gold, mother-of-pearl and metal coating under the paint layer is the hallmark of Fedoskino craftsmen. Additionally, the product is decorated with a pattern of silver paper pieces, sometimes a scratching technique is used. The overall production time span amounts to six months.
The most favored motifs used by artists are popular genre scenes. These are troikas, tea parties, roundelays, scenes of country life, historic or recent events. Products decorated with copies of famous Russian and European artists, are especially popular. Beautiful ladies and noble men, cheerful Russian beauties and hard-working peasants look as if they are going to come to life this very moment. Sketches of nature and story scenes strike with almost photographic accuracy.
Each Fedoskino box is a unique work having a special inscription. It includes the place and the year of manufacturing, the name of the work and the author's name with his own signature. The factory-made product also has a serial number, allowing to classify it.
View exquisite Fedoskino miniatures on our website. Such a purchase is more than just a souvenir. That is a true treasure and a future heirloom, fascinating by painting techniques and a special aura of splendor.