Russian Crafts
Every culture and country has its own unique tradition of arts and crafts. In the Americas, turquoise and will forever be linked with the Indians of the Southwest, while bead-shirts are always recognizable as a Plains-tribes creation. In classical times, intricate mosaic work says “Roman” to the scholar.
Modern Russia is no exception to this rule. From the world-renowned Faberge eggs, to the fancy Khokhloma laquerware, to the fun Matryosha dolls that children play with, Russian crafts are known for their bright painting, intricate designs, and high quality of workmanship.
The oldest traditions of Russian craft work started in wood. Later, artisans began to work with clay, porcelain, papier-mache, or enamel and jewels. As is common in most cultures, the most beautiful and intricate work was frequently the product of Royal commission and patronage, while the simpler woodwork and tableware was produced at a much lower level of the social scale.
In the modern world, with our mechanized ways of production, much of that distinction has been lost. However, even today, the best crafts are still handmade, and even with the simplest of methods, experienced artisans can produce objects of great beauty.
This web page was founded in May 2004. The most famous masters and handicraft workshops of the Ural participate in this project. The Ural - is the region of Russia, situated between Europe and Asia. The Ural is the gates to Siberia. The majority of masters preserved the traditions of the ancestors. That is why their handicrafts distinguish themselves by high quality, ecological purity and by the spirit of antiquity.
The brothers Makarovs - Vasiliy and Ilya - are the founders of the web page. They have a lot of experience of Internet-commerce and they are directors in a number of Internet-shops. In view of this, the web page distinguishes itself by high reliability.
Margarita Morozova is the chief consultant. She is the professional historian, she has for many years been occupied with handicraft creative work. Margarita Morozova is an expert in folk culture, a connoisseur of Russian traditions and customs.