The Kursk Wood Crafts company was founded 40 years ago, in 1972. Only 10 people worked for the company at that time. Their number increased to 500 by mid-1980s. Some 70 people work for the company today.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThe Kursk Wood Crafts company was founded 40 years ago, in 1972. Only 10 people worked for the company at that time. Their number increased to 500 by mid-1980s. Some 70 people work for the company today.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The Kursk Wood Crafts company was founded 40 years ago, in 1972. Only 10 people worked for the company at that time. Their number increased to 500 by mid-1980s. Some 70 people work for the company today.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThe company’s first employees were trained by Khokhloma craftsmen, the keepers of 300-year-old wood painting traditions.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The company’s first employees were trained by Khokhloma craftsmen, the keepers of 300-year-old wood painting traditions.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaHowever, Russia does not need two companies working in the same style, therefore the Kursk Woodcrafts chose their own path and developed a special painting technique with patterns borrowed from traditional Kursk carpets and gold embroidery.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
However, Russia does not need two companies working in the same style, therefore the Kursk Woodcrafts chose their own path and developed a special painting technique with patterns borrowed from traditional Kursk carpets and gold embroidery.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaKursk craftsmen use only natural materials, strictly observe processing methods, and undergo annual medical examinations
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Kursk craftsmen use only natural materials, strictly observe processing methods, and undergo annual medical examinations
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaMost items are made of soft wood (linden and aspen), which is first dried for a long time before it falls into the hands of the lather.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Most items are made of soft wood (linden and aspen), which is first dried for a long time before it falls into the hands of the lather.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaAfter that, all items are polished and sanded…
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
After that, all items are polished and sanded…
© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova… and covered with aluminum powder.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
… and covered with aluminum powder.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThen the items go to the painting workshop.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Then the items go to the painting workshop.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaPainters use squirrel hair brushes and natural paints.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Painters use squirrel hair brushes and natural paints.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaAll items are painted without stencils, which makes each piece unique.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
All items are painted without stencils, which makes each piece unique.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThe items are varnished and dried in electric furnaces before they are sent to souvenir shops.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The items are varnished and dried in electric furnaces before they are sent to souvenir shops.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaMost experienced artists work with lacquer miniatures using tempera paints and mosaic gold.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Most experienced artists work with lacquer miniatures using tempera paints and mosaic gold.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThe Kursk Woodcrafts products vary from traditional bowls, samovars…
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
The Kursk Woodcrafts products vary from traditional bowls, samovars…
© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova… and Matryoshka nesting dolls…
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
… and Matryoshka nesting dolls…
© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova... to Christmas tree decorations...
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
... to Christmas tree decorations...
© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova... and the Russian Knight bottle-holders…
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
... and the Russian Knight bottle-holders…
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaPortrait of President Vladimir Putin painted on the Russian Knight bottle-holder.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Portrait of President Vladimir Putin painted on the Russian Knight bottle-holder.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaPortraits of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra, painted on wine chalices.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
Portraits of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II and his wife, Empress Alexandra, painted on wine chalices.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThese items painted in the mid-1970s are exhibited at the company’s museum.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
These items painted in the mid-1970s are exhibited at the company’s museum.
© RIA Novosti . Irina RyapolovaThese yellow balls are Koloboks. The Kolobok, the main character of the Russian fairy tale with the same name, is a mascot of the Ulyanovsk region.
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© RIA Novosti . Irina Ryapolova
These yellow balls are Koloboks. The Kolobok, the main character of the Russian fairy tale with the same name, is a mascot of the Ulyanovsk region.