Khokhloma toys and dishes - a tradition that has become modern

The Khokhloma painting, like the Dymkovo toy, Vologda lace, Pavlovsky shosse shawls and other crafts reflect the spirit and traditions of our people. Today, interest in this art is constantly growing. Khokhloma toys, painted dishes and furniture become not only museum exhibits, but also an organic part of our life. About them also there will be a speech today.

Followers of icon painters

For certain it is not known how the Khokhloma painting appeared. According to modern ideas, fishing has been more than 300 years. He appeared in the Trans-Volga, where the territory of the Koverninsky district of the Gorky region is now located. Khokhloma toys and kitchen utensils are distinguished by a special honey-golden color of the background or details of the pattern. It is he who makes the painting unique. It is believed that the technology of obtaining this shade was taken by masters from the Old Believers. Those were able to give the icons a golden sheen without the use of precious metal.

Technology

Regardless of what the Khokhloma painting covers: toys, dishes or furniture, the principle of staining is the same. The wooden blank is covered with soil and linseed oil, and then rubbed with aluminum powder. Previously, tin was used instead of it, however, modern technologies make it possible to produce aluminum in large quantities, and therefore it is now used in the process of creating khokhloma utensils. Covered with a metal powder product is painted. Then I cover it again with linseed oil and two layers of varnish, after which the work is sent to the oven. From there the painted objects are already golden. Under the influence of high temperature, a special coating changes the color of the product, and the metallic layer gives a characteristic luster.

Beautiful and strong

The color characteristic of Khokhloma is obtained due to the special composition covering the pattern. However, the value of such products is not only in their beauty. Lacquer, which protects the painting, is particularly stable. He is not afraid of high temperatures or mechanical effects. Khokhloma toys can be safely given to kids. Even if the children decide to bathe them in icy water, nothing will happen to the painting. The same goes for the dishes: cups, plates, jugs and spoons covered with Khokhloma, are not afraid of either boiling water or cold.

Khokhloma toy: history

Of course, in the first place hohloma covered dishes and interior items. In the XVII century, when it is believed that this type of painting appeared, the tin powder cost dearly, and therefore not everyone could afford the products. However, the Khokhloma toy gradually appeared. Drawings using traditional elements began to decorate small figures of animals and people.

Most of the toys were made of wood. The living material was well processed and cost relatively inexpensive. To make their goods, toy masters used birch, aspen, pine and linden. From region to region, the preferences of artisans varied depending on the prevalence of one or another type of tree. From tools for making toys used an ax and a knife, sometimes a chisel.

Semyonovskaya Khokhloma

Of course, the conversation about the folk toy will be incomplete, if you do not remember about the doll. For many, the history of its occurrence can become an unexpected discovery. Matryoshka came to Russia at the end of the XIX century from ... Japan. The prototype of it was the Indian patriarch Jarma, who, according to the constitution, spent nine long years in fasting and meditation, as a result of which his hands and legs fell off. Perseverance of the sage was respected in Japan, where he was revered as a god and called Daruma. Numerous figurines depicted him without arms and legs. Gradually there was a tradition of one mini-sculpture to invest in another - and so up to seven "layers".

The souvenir got the name Fukuruma and in this form got to Russia. Seeing him, the artist Sergey Malyutin was inspired to create a new toy. Instead of an old man without arms and legs, he painted a red-cheeked beauty in a kerchief. And the matryoshka appeared. Gradually, the tradition of making such a toy got to the city of Semenov and there remained. Masters are doing and painting matryoshkas today. Often used to decorate toys so-called Semenovskaya khokhloma. From the traditional it is distinguished by large and bright flowers, slightly different color scale.

Khokhloma today

Folk crafts and traditions in our time are of interest not only to historians. They are addressed by a variety of masters: from simple needlewomen to eminent fashion designers and designers. Thanks to the rapid development of information technology, it is now easy enough to find material on the topic. And when asked how to draw a Khokhloma toy, you can easily find the right answer. Developed and handicraft tourism, when the masters go to the homeland of this or that art form and learn it directly from the custodians of traditions.

Khokhloma toys are still pleasing to children who love everything bright and unusual. Many teachers in order to develop their students' artistic abilities and to evoke interest in traditional culture conduct classes that teach Khokhloma techniques. They know and respect this kind of painting and abroad. Tourists from different countries, returning home, bring home dolls, kitchen utensils and even furniture covered with Khokhloma painting. Now we can say with confidence that this kind of folk art has found its niche in the modern world and more than one generation will be inspired by its juicy patterns.