thumb|Khokhloma setright|thumb|Khokhloma tableware on a Soviet postage stamp.
Khokhloma (also Hohloma, Russian: хохлома; Russian pronunciation: [xəxɫɐˈma]) or Khokhloma painting (хохломская роспись, hohlomskaya rospis) is a style of Russian art traditionally painted on wooden household items. It is known for its curved linear features depicting vivid small flowers, berries, grasses, and leaf motifs. The Firebird, a common and popular figure from the Russian fairytales is often featured as the main subject matter.
The style is named after the village of Khokhloma (56.973°N 43.902°E) in Koverninsky District, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, Volga region, where it first appeared in the second half of the 17th century. This region is known for wood crafts ranging from small household goods to carvings on gables and gates in the traditional peasant cottages. The abundance of timber made for prolific and notable woodcarving traditions emerge throughout the centuries. Alongside Khokhloma, there are other wood painting styles and traditions as well as birch wood carvings throughout the Volga region.
Design elements and creative process
Typical color schemes for Khokhloma include a combination of red, black, and gold. However, the gold appearance is not typically real gold. The process involves coating the wood with drying oil, applying powdered aluminum (historically other metals have been utilized), and painted with heat resistant oil paints, and varnished. The works are then put in a kiln. When the varnish is heated it gives a yellow/gold tint to the works emulating a gold-like appearance.
The handicraft owes its origin to the Old Believers, who, fleeing from persecutions of officials, took refuge in local woods. However, even earlier, local villagers had experience in making tableware from soft woods.
Among the schismatics there were icon-painters, who taught local craftsmen the special technique of painting wood in a golden color without the use of genuine real gold.
Due to the increasing number of factories and modern products, the late 19th and early 20th century saw a significant decline in folk art production and necessity at large. The two largest components that impacted Khokhloma production significantly were the rising costs of timber and competition with factories.
Gallery
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File:Nischni Nowgorod PD 2010 070.JPG|Khokhloma during production
File:Khokhloma Hochloma 20090814 02.JPG|Khokhloma wares
File:Nischni Nowgorod PD 2010 072.JPG|Khokhloma giant spoon
File:The_Soviet_Union_1957_CPA_1996_stamp_(Khokhloma_Painting).jpg|1957 stamp
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See also
- List of Russian inventions