Khokhloma Painting

Golden Khokhloma is one of the oldest and unique Russian handicrafts that has been forming the tenor and mode of life of many generations and is an integral part of Russian culture. The specific feature of Khokhloma craft is production of gilded kitchen wooden utensils without the use of precious metals but with the use of unique grass-like painting. The Fire-bird decorated with bright flowers is the symbol of Khokhloma painting. The capital town of the craft is Semyonov located at 80 km from Nizhny Novgorod.

Khokhloma craft is over three hundred years old. It first appeared in the northern part of the Volga region and originated from icon painting. In the 17th century the craft developed near Khokhloma village of Semyonov district. Thus, wooden painted plates and dishes became known as Khokhloma utensils. And the craft itself acquired the name of Khokhloma.
The products of this kind were sold at famous Makariev Trade Fair, then at Nizhny Novgorod Trade Fair, in Moscow and other cities and towns of Russia. Since the 60s of the 19th century Khokhloma plates and furniture were exhibited at Russian and foreign exhibitions.

Buyers have always appreciated Khokhloma products because they were light, durable and beautiful.

In the 19th century the patterns of the painting were quite simple: cups were decorated with geometric patterns, but by the end of the century the painting became more complicated. Large objects were painted with golden flowers and round leaves, the products that were to be sold to cities were painted with patterns typical of cotton shawls, old kerchiefs or manuscripts. The most popular pattern was so called “grass” painting. But in the 30s of the 20th century a new Khokhloma design was created on the basis of the best traditions. The modern painting was enriched with new patterns, became more exquisite and complicated in terms of colors and composition, the technology of painting has also become more sophisticated.

Now Khokhlomskaya Rospis CJSC, the largest handicraft enterprise in Russia, keeps the long-running tradition of manufacturing products with Khokhloma painting. The range of products includes over 1,000 utensils and souvenirs, and among them – kits for fish soup, for desert, place sets, carved ladles and ladles for wine, candlesticks, vases, bottles, panels, music boxes.
The quality of all the products are certified by conformance certificates and hygiene certificates, which means that Khokhloma plates and dishes do not cause any danger during meals.

At special orders objects with symbols and portraits are produced.

The company employs over 1,500 workers, 400 artists among them. Many artists have the title of Honored Artist of Russia, are members of the Russian Union of Artists, and quite a number of them have been rewarded with state prizes.

An artistic laboratory has been operating at the enterprise. The laboratory develops new highly artistic products. Among the real masters are painters M. Ivanova, E. Zaitseva, O. Razumova, N. Voronina. At the pattern developed by Honored Artist of the RF Taisiya Belyantseva bodies of eight aircraft belonging to British Airways were decorated with Khokhloma painting to celebrate the 40th anniversary of flights from London to Moscow.

In 1993 an icon shop was established at the enterprise and icon production was initiated to support the old tradition of icon painting on the “gold”. The painters were trained in Trinity-Sergiev Laura and were blessed to paint icons by Mitropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod and Arzamas Nikolay. In 1999 the icon shop of the enterprise was honoured to become a part of the “Patriarch Shops” under the auspices of Holy Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexis II. Now many churches of Nizhny Novgorod region are decorated with Khokhloma icons.

Not long ago the enterprise initiated production of principally new objects – painted panels. They combine two arts - traditional painting and decorative painting of Khokhloma.

The enterprise manufactures not only souvenirs, plates and dishes, but also furniture decorated with Khokhloma painting: children tables, chairs and benches, tables for interiors, servicing tables and magazine tables. Children furniture meets the requirement of GOST.
Now “Khokhloskaya Rospis” CJSC is developing quite successfully, increasing output and sales. The products of the plant are exported to foreign states: Kazakhstan, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkmenistan, the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Spain and other countries.

“Khokhlomskaya Rospis” CJSC is a patron of Semyonov Art School №30 which trains masters of painting and wood-processing.

Visitors are offered interesting tours around the plant, and have the possibility to get acquainted to the history of the craft and the technology of manufacturing Khokhloma products at all stages. Tourists have a chance to make acquaintance with the best masters and to participate in exciting master-classes. They can order a dinner at a spacious canteen or a restaurant the interior of which is decorated in Khokhloma style, while dishes are served in “tsar’s” plates.

There is a show-room at the plant, where since 1972 the unique products are exhibited including a tremendous Khokhloma spoon of the length of 2.67 m and a cup with diameter of 1.5 m. At a store tourists can buy all the products manufactured by the plant at attractive prices.
Another achievement of the plant management is an annual All-Russian Festival “Gold Khokhloma”, held in Semyonov in June.

In June 2008 Museum and Toutist Center “Golden Khokhloma” will be opened in Semyonov.

Nikolay V. Korotkov, General Director of Khokhlomskaya Rospis CJSC, Honored Worker of Culture of the RF, an Honored Citizen of the Nizhny Novgorod region. He has been awarded the Order “For Services for the Motherland” of the 4th degree. In 2003 he was awarded the highest economic Prize named after A.N. Kosygin by the Russian Union of Manufacturers.