The domestic trade of the Vladimir and Moscow regions
Zhostovo
175 years is quite a conventional date. In Zhostovo and other villages of Troitsk district small shops engaged in miniature painting over papier mache emerged 220 years ago. As Doctor of Historical Science I. N. Yukhanova witnesses, in 1780 three such shops existed.The date “1825” mentioned by art critic I.Ya.Boguslavskaya, it’s the period to form rather a large plant. After the construction of Ostankino palace of duke Sheremetievo many involved villain carvers, painters started dealing in their own trade. Vishniakov was one of those bondmen, who failed to buy off, but reached the degree of first guild merchant. He and his brothers attracted the best skilled persons in their shop that allowed them to accept orders even from the emperor’s court. In parallel with the Vishniakov the Beliaev, the Mitrofanov, Zaitcev, Leontiev worked. In 1876 economic Isaev A. wrote the book “Crafts of the Moscow province” where he mentions12 shops similar to Zhostov one. Everything began from lacquer visors of policemen’s kepi. Fist papier mache served as the basis for painting. Caskets, snuffboxes, puffboxes, glove boxes, matchboxes, caddies, pencil glasses, little dishes, tables adorned with painted miniatures and even spectacle case were produced. Metal appeared in the thirties of the XIX century. After the 1812 war many generals began building country-houses in Moscow and near Moscow and covered the same with Urals iron. There appeared constant suppliers from Nizhny Taguil. Ready-made items including hand forged metal trays…
Bogorodskoe
The Bogorodskoe-based artistic crafts of toy and sculpture emerged on the basis of deep traditions of the Russian ancient art. Its cultural sources are linked with Troitse-Serguiev monastery, the largest center of artistic handicraft of the Moscow Russia, the local school of applied art. The traditional handicraft work deep-rooted here and alive folklore nature of collective creation ensured the viability of folk toy production within several centuries. The life and cultural experience of fathers and grandfathers was transferred from hand to hand with the aid of toys.
In the XV-XVII centuries the settlement of Bogorodskoe near Moscow was a large village extended on the high side of the river Kunia.The sacred charter (will ) of Moscow boyar Andrey Mikhailovich Plescheev, village’s owner, mentions Bogorodskoe in 1491 for the first time.
Since the beginning of the XVII century Troitse-Serguiv monastery and Bogorodskoe-based masters cooperated closely on sales of carved goods. A portion of toys was polished and painted, other portion was sold in a different way. Toys were sold near the monastery’s walls, at the markets of Moscow and other cities. At that time there were made the toys of two types: “grey” and “clean”. The grey things means roughly made and cheap sold toys like smiths, little soldiers or ladies. “Clean ” toys were mobile (picking hens, butting lambs, tea drinking)
made thoroughly and sold more expensive. The Bogorodskoe-based masters are famous for their wooden carved toys which are not painted, but carefully finished cleaning the same with glass paper. A. Ya. Chushkin should be mentioned among the artists-carvers of the village of Bogorodskoe. His excellent works brought the master some awards at artistic exhibitions held in Russia and abroad. In 1913 Andrey Chushkin with his mates arranged the team of crafts & toys located in the village of Bogorodskoe. The team included 19 “fathers-founders” who were the most talented carvers. In 1923 the team got the name “Bogorodskoe-based carver”. Now the plant has the same name. The assortment room, in fact the crafts museum, is attached to the plant. First of all, humor is characteristic to Bogorodskoe-based masters. A popular Bogorodskoe-based toy “Smiths” was given to famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin . He kept the toy and once during the visit of the group of Russian artists-modernists produced it and asked: “Will many of you be able to carve a similar toy?”
Gus-Khrustalny
1756 is considered to be the official date of birth of Gus-based crystal plant.In fact the plant’s history begins in 1723 whenOrel-based merchant Vasily Yurievich Maltsov got the permission to arrange the glass & crystal plant in the village of Novoe of Mozhaisky district near Moscow. Some time later Maltsov V.Yu. transferred the plant located near Moscow to his sons Akim and Alexander. Shortly, in 1747 the Senate issued a decree prohibiting the construction of factories and plants closer than two hundred versts (versta=1,06 km) from Moscow “..due to fires and in order to prevent the forests from marauding cutting out for fuel”.
The Maltsov transfer the plant to a different place and select for that Meschera area of Vladimir province which was rich in raw for glass making: sand, fireclays, forests, rivers.
Here , in the district of Shivorovo on the river Gus the plant started its operation in 1756. Soon it got the name of Gus-based crystal plant.
The Maltsov owned some dozens of glass and crystal productions not only in the Vladimir province, but in other parts of Russia. Hence, the widespread term – Maltsov crystal. But exactly Gus-based crystal plant of all “possessions” owned by Maltsov and other Russian glass plant gained the status of the traditional center of Russian artistic industrial glass making and deserved universal recognition in Russia and abroad.
In May 1983 the Museum, one the best museums of national artistic glass, located at the George’s cathedral received its first visitors. Thoroughly restored interior of the magnificent monument and a beautiful crystal collection are perceived as a bright, festive and solemn whole. Crystal is remarkably melodious. If one touches skillfully the item edge, it rings gently as melodious mellow clink. The marvelous things display red, violet, green lights. The articles of the XVIII century are wonderful. Heavy carafes, wineglasses of deep diamond facets delicately painted with golden ornament. The glass of the XIX century has rare diversity. Lead crystal, rich diamond facet made perfect. Talented carvers could catch a sunny ray and made it flash in crystal. Thinnest as if aerial multilayer glass reminding silver points. Colored multilayer glass imitating gold and silver emerges. The multilayer vases, flasks made under models of items of famous French artist E. Galle with muted blue & violet and golden & brown “ painted” landscapes are unique. The fame of Gus-based crystal overstepped the nation’s borders. Amazing art and talent of old Gus-based masters are awarded with golden medals of exhibitions held in Paris, Vienna, Chicago. The items of 1920 are ordinary and laconic in their form with decor in the form of simple etching and painting with colored dyes. The new subjects are topical reflecting the country’s specific events – “Five year plan within four years”, “20 years of October”, “Sports meeting of the peoples of the USSR”, “ 850 years of Vladimir city”. The traditions of old masters are carefully kept and developed by Gus-based artists, graduates of higher artistic schools. Each artist has own style, individual approach towards the self-expression mode. The beauty of nature of native Meschera area is reflected in the works of artist E. Rogov. His compositions “Sorb”, “Forest distances”,”Summer” are lyric and poetic. The works of associate member of the Academy of arts V. Muratov are wonderful. The decorative composition “Sogdiana” represents the images of legends and stories of the ancient Orient. The decorative sculptures “Lion”, ”Fairy bird”, “Carriage-and-three” absorbed the folk traditions of Russian glass-making. The works of O. Kozlova are tender and lyric. The plastic arts and etching of A. Kurilov are excellent. The services of many pieces and compositions by V. Korneev, V. Kasatkin, V. Zaitcev, R. Aksenov are perfect in form and saturated with richness of color palette.
Perfect harmony, emotional perception of the magnificent monument and unique collection is made by classic chamber music sounding in the museum. Thanks to exciting acoustic possibilities the international festival of choir and chamber music “Crystal lira” is annually held at the Crystal Museum.
Mstera
Mstera is located on the river Kliazma, prior the beginning of XX century – settlement of Bogoyavlenskaya . Mstera. One of the main centers of Russian folk art of miniature painting on lacquer items. Icon-painting emerges from the end of XVII- beginning of XVIII century. Intense development of artistic crafts and trade was registered after the reform of 1861.
Several thousands of skilled women are engaged in embroidery in the settlement of Mstera of Vladimir region. The original style including the best features of Vladimir-based embroidery was set here. The name “Mstera embroidery” shall mainly include the embroidery over thin white cloths with the ornament in the form of bouquets and garlands made with white satin-stitch and enriched with decoration. Coverlets, mantles, ladies’ clothes, blouses, dresses shall be adorned. The art of white satin stitch strikes with the high artistic perfection of performance. The widespread motive of Mstera embroidery is the stylish image of rose surrounded by leaves and the most diverse flowers. Mstera-based skilled women worked with colored filament. Heartsease, bell-flowers, geranium, forget-me-not expand on their embroidery works, a bindweed stretches out its thin horns. The images of fruits and berries, peas-cods are seen. The item edges are finished with small elements which are bordered with eyelet seams or large festoons. Now in Russia four traditional center of miniature lacquer painting over papier-mache: Fedoskino, Palekh, Mstera and Kholui enjoy major fame. Forming part of the single family of Russian lacquers, mutually influencing and enriching, each of them has a bright individual mode. |
