Russian Lacquer Boxes
Among Russian folk art, one of the most beautiful is the complex art of miniature painting on paper mache boxes. The original jurisdiction of Russia in the late eighteenth century.
In the villages of Fedoskino, Paleka, and Kholyi Mstera, art flourishes today. It has about 225 artists working at one point, after being admitted to a 4-year schools, where 10 to 15 times as many applications are rejected. After their 4 years of hard training, they must prove their ability before being allowed to graduate.
The base material used in the manufacture of lacquer boxes are cardboard.Thn leaves are cut, glued and pressed into different shapes. Then they are washed in hot linseed oil and placed in special ovens to dry very slowly over a period of 30 days of making their room temperature to 100 degrees centigrade and back. After drying, polish and cans are filled, the artist begins to paint.
The finished product will withstand the atmospheric conditions that affect even well-seasoned wood. The finished product will not warp, crack or craze. The educated collector will see the various styles of work performed between each of the four villages.
Source: Russian Lacquer Boxes
