Khokhloma Painting

Khokhloma paiting on wood is a traditional type of Russian decorative work that was started in the second half of XVII century on the territory of what is today called Koverninsky region of Nizhnii Novgorod oblast.

The name of this type of painting was given to it after the trade village of Khokhloma - also located in the Nizhnii Novgorod oblast. From XVIII till the beginning of XX century this village was known as the trade center for the products of Khokhloma painting.

Khokhloma painting (or Khokhloma) is characterized by the original technology of painting wood gold without the usage of the metal itself. Wooden pieces (normally, kitchen utensils) were first covered by a solution of clay putty, linseed oil and tin powder (nowadays aluminum powder is used instead). Then the painting itself was made and the piece was covered by a layer of linseed oil varnish (now synthetic varnish is used) and hardened at an extremely high temperature in the furnace. Various combinations of such colors as red, black and golden are characteristic of Khokhloma painting. Most often used types of painting include the "topping" (red and black on golden background) and "background" painting (golden silhouette painting on color background).

In the beginning of XX century Khokhloma painting started vanishing as an industry, but it was revived in the Soviet years. In 1920s-30s painters united into artels. In 1960s such plants as "Khokloma Painter" (in Khokhloma's place of birth) and "Khokhloma Painting" (in the city of Semenov) were founded. Ever since then these two plants have become the main centers of this type of decorative work.