Antique Russian Lacquered Miniatures

The creation of authentic Russian Lacquered Miniatures dates back over 200 years, and very few of the pieces produced before the communist takeover have survived . In the 1800's, the workshops of Lukutin and Vishnikov were the most prominent producers of these works; most often they were practical items painted on paper-mâché such as spice containers, cigarette or snuff boxes, tea-caddys, eyeglass holders, jewelry boxes and other daily use essentials for table or desk.

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Russian Lacquer Box Construction

Most antique Russian lacquer-boxes were painted in oil, and because the paper-mâché base does not expand or contract with temperature, the articles can survive extremely well intact. Like a fine old oil painting, the scenes painted on these old boxes can sometimes become slightly "checked" over time, as the process of lacquering over the paint with numerous layers to protect the painting was not done on these early works.

Russian Lacquer Box History

Lacquer miniatures started in Russian more as a peasant art-form than a fine-art form, so many scenes painted on them were depicting simple peasant life. Troikas in winter or summer, Russian fairy tale scenes, and churches and landscapes were some of the most common subjects. After the rise of the Soviet Union, the government controlled the production of the lacquer miniature art, and the center became Fedoskino village near Moscow where many a lacquer--box was produced with a political scene, perhaps a portrait of Lenin or other propaganda of the day, although traditional scenes continued to be produced by the Fedoskino cooperative. Many of these pieces are delightful antiques also to collect and treasure.

Antique Russian Lacquered Miniatures

Russian Lacquer Box Construction

Russian Lacquer Box History

Signed, Collectible Russian Lacquer Boxes

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