Russian Pottery: Khokhloma or Khokhloma painting

Khokhloma bowls and spoons

 

History

 

Khokhloma is the name of a Russian wood painting handicraft known for its vivid flower patterns, red and gold colors over the black background, and the distinctive effect on the cheap and light wooden tableware or furniture, making it look heavier, metal-like and glamorous. As a name in the tradition of native Russian art, Khokhloma first appeared in the second half of the 17th century. The handicraft owes its origin to the Old Ritualists, who, fleeing from persecutions of officials, took refuge in the local woods. The Khokhloma craftsmen united into artels in the 1920s. In the 1960s, the government allocated recourses to build two Khokhloma factories. The facilities have been producing tableware, utensils (mostly spoons), furniture, souvenirs etc. The techniques involved in creating the Khokhloma pieces are kept in secret.

 

Golden Hohloma is a bright phenomenon of Russian folk arts. The khokhloma handicraft became to be known as early as the XVII century in Nizhegorodsky region. It received the appellation of khokhloma art from one of the villages which grew to become a trading post to which the local craftsmen brought their wares for sale.

Traditionally khokhloma items were produced in the monasteries and were designed primarily for the Zhar's Court. When the highly-glazed pottery and metal ware was marketed, unusual painting of items from Semyonov guaranteed their popularity and sales.

Thus in the XIX century items with khokhloma painting were famous not only in Russia but in Persia, India, Middle East, the USA and Australia as well. The export of khokhloma items grew after the worldwide exhibition in 1889 in Paris.

In 1916 Nizhegorodskoye Zemstvo established the first School for Wood-Working Arts and Crafts in Semyonov. First graduators of that School with it's director Mr. G. Matveev found a Cooperative (in 1931) which was restructured into a large production company Artistic Production Works "Khokhlomskaya Rospis".To begin with the 1960-s "Hohloma painting" has become the main manufacturer of handicrafts with khokhloma painting.

 

The Techniques

 

1. Workpieces are turned on a lathe

2. The workpieces are grounded with liquid clay mortar and oiled with flaxseed oil after that they are treated with drying oil and dried. This step is repeated 3 to 4 times

3. Next stage is tinning: the item is covered with aluminum metallic powder (once they used silver powder and later cheaper tin powder). Then the silver-coloured piece is ready for painting, which is done in oils, and is secured by drying in a furnace.

4. Afterwards the work is covered with several layers of varnish, each of them dried separately in a stove. It is under the influence of high temperature, that varnish turns silver colour of the article into golden.

 

Khokhloma artists are doing these kinds of paintings without any preliminary marking; they apply free-hand brush painting.

 

 

 

"Khokhloma paintings convey the beauty of live nature as well as symbols of good things, well-being and happiness in Russia."


Markings

 

Most Khokhloma that we have come across,more specifically bowls and such have tags on the bottom.We,however,do not read russian so it has been very hard for us to distinguish what it is the tags might say.We are guessing there is some significance in the markings to where each piece may have originated,as well as what year the piece was made.

 

It is not hard to distinguish Khokhloma,from afar the painted pieces appear shiny and its colors are generally gold,red and black.You can't tell just by looking at it that the pieces are actually made of soft wood.However,once you handle the pieces it is quite evident.

 

We love Khokhloma,one for the simple fact that Sarah has personal ties to an ancestry in Russia.Also,for the beautiful appearance and painting of each piece.You can tell each artist poured their souls into the hand painted designs.

 

 

Share with us 

If you have any more information on these beautiful pieces of Russian Folk Art please share with us.We always love to hear your stories,and learn more about the things we enjoy collecting.

 

As always please visit our Etsy store for some vintage collectibles,pottery,and housewares.

www.etsy.com/shop/19148Vintage

 

An Awesome Find

 

Michigan Chair Company-Grand Rapids Michigan

A few weeks back we were scouring one of the local flea markets we frequent and came across this awesome solid oak mission style window bench.The guy who was selling it seen us checking it out and made the comment that he had no idea what it was.We knew a little better,well enough that 1.) we could probablly talk him down in price and 2.) that it was worth waaay more than what he was asking for in price.So we left it alone and finished our rounds of the flea market,only to come back and ask him if he would accept $30 dollars for the chair.He agreed.After careful inspection of the chair i found the makers mark on the bottom and did a little research.It turns up that the chair dates to somewhere around 1911 and is valued at somewhere between $400-$600 dollars,and at a recent auction the same exact chair sold for around $300 dollars..One that was in far worse condition than ours.These are the moments that keep Sarah and I collecting.Finding awesome things that are meaningless to some,but absolutely beautiful to us.I can't stress to you enough the importance of researching things.If you own something that seems old and worthless to you,put a little tlc in and do some research on the item.You could be sitting on an absolute treasure.At any rate,we love this chair so much,it would be pointless to ever sell it.

 

 

California Pottery? Not.

Backstory: California Pottery? Not.

On a nice brisk saturday morning we made our way around the flea market as usual,looking for some nice vintage pottery.On this particular saturday we found this older gentlemen whose tent was filled with some McCoy,Roseville and other nice vintage pottery.I noticed he also had what i had done some careful research and had come to know as Cookson Pottery.As i picked up one of the pieces to inspect it,he said to my girlfriend and I "Yeah,thats some really nice California Pottery".It was then that i realized i had to school him a little bit on the origins of Cookson Pottery.In response,i replied "Actually,it's not California Pottery it comes from the Ohio River Valley it's Cookson Pottery".He looked shocked for one that someone as young looking as my girlriend and i would even know what we were talking about.I also gathered  he might have been a little unnerved that someone would actually correct him,as some of these flea market guys like to really talk up their goods.At any rate,his prices on some of the pieces seemed reasonable,so we bought a few pieces and all ended well.

The History Of Cookson Pottery

Cookson Pottery was established in 1945 in Roseville Ohio and lasted until the early 90's.They made planters,vases and garden ware.

What to look for: Cookson Pottery Markings

Cookson Pottery Marks are pretty easy to distinguish.If you look on the bottom of the piece you will generally notice a CP followed by a dash and a number followed by another dash and USA.It usually reads like this CP-738-USA.I haven't really done enough research to find out exactly what the numbers mean,however,i am guessing it has something to do with the size of the pottery or maybe the design type.

 

We always like to learn more about Pottery like Cookson and others,so if you have any information you'de like to add,please by all means leave a comment.

 

And as always we have an Etsy store,where you can find all sorts of Vintage items from Pyrex to Cookson Pottery and more.Have a look at our store.

www.etsy.com/shop/19148Vintage