This beautiful 'St. Basil's Cathedral' music box is a 100% original hand-crafted Russian piece of art. It is made according to the world-famous Red Square architectural wonder - St. Basil's Cathedral. Coated with 5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, giving it a luxurious glossy finish. Rotates while playing the all-familiar 'Swan Lake' by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Paintings of Moscow sights around the base, including the Kremlin. Would make a terrific gift to anyone interested in Russia and Moscow in particular! Size: 10.2' (26cm). Ships within 10 business days. Imported from Moscow.
As all of our nesting dolls, this 5-piece set is handcrafted in the heart of Russia. This is a copy of an item currently on display in 'The Beatles' museum in Liverpool, England. It commemorates one of the band's most successful albums - 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. The set is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the tallest one is signed by artist. Would make a great gift to any fan. Height: 6.3' (16cm). Ships within 7 business days.
Dimensions: height: c. 14' diameter: c. 7.5' Metric: height: 35cm diameter: 18.75cm Volume: 3 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 220 volts, 1.25 KVt (no voltage converter necessary; simple plug adaptor would do) Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: The gorgeous 'Fairy Tale' electric samovar set in front of you consists of an authentic 'ryumka' (shot glass)-shaped hand-painted Russian electric samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea), a handsome hand-painted tray and a beautiful hand-painted porcelain teapot. The whole set is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. Important: Slight variations in the painting pattern are acceptable, as each and every set is hand-painted; hence, unique and unparalleled. WARNING: Do not place the painted teapot on top of hot samovar. The paint will come off. Teapot may be put on top of samovar only when the latter is not in use. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Height: 15-16cm (approx. 6 inches). Buy this 10 piece blank to paint your own nesting doll! It it both a unique craft idea for your kids and/or students, and a great gift idea for yourself. You may paint your own unique item for your loved one! This is a top quality linden wood unpainted blank that has been hand carved in the village of Polkhovski Maidan (Russia), the largest wooden blanks supplier in Russia.
Size: approx. 6.5' Metric: 16.25cm Consists of: 5 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this 5 piece set of five Soviet & Russian leaders is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the tallest one is signed by artist. Would make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russia.
Size: approx. 9' Metric: 22-23cm Consists of: 10 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 20 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5-7 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the largest one is signed by artist. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN BALLET Russia has made a unique contribution to the development of ballet. Ballet was introduced in Russia together with other aristocratic dance forms as part of Peter the Great's Westernization program in the early 1700s. The first ballet school was established in 1734, and the first full ballet company was founded at the Imperial School of Ballet in St. Petersburg in the 1740s. Italian and French dancers and choreographers predominated in that period, but by 1800 Russian ballet was assimilating native elements from folk dancing as nobles sponsored dance companies of serfs. European ballet critics agreed that the Russian dance had a positive influence on West European ballet. Marius Petipa, a French choreographer who spent fifty years staging ballets in Russia, was the dominant figure during that period; his greatest triumphs were the staging of Tchaikovsky's ballets. Other noted European dancers, such as Marie Taglioni, Christian Johansson, and Enrico Cecchetti, performed in Russia throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, bringing new influences from the West. The most influential figure of the early twentieth century was the impresario Sergey Diaghilev, who founded an innovative touring ballet company in 1909 with choreographer Michel Fokine, dancer Vaslav Nijinksy, and designer Alexandre Benois. After the staging of Stravinskiy's controversial The Rite of Spring, World War I and the Bolshevik Revolution kept Diaghilev from returning to Russia. Until Diaghilev died in 1929, his Russian dance company, the Ballet Russe, was headquartered in Paris. In the same period, the emigre dancer Anna Pavlova toured the world with her troupe and exerted a huge influence on the art form. After Diaghilev, several new companies calling themselves the Ballet Russe toured the world, and new generations of Russian dancers filled their ranks. George Balanchine, a Georgian emigre and protege of Diaghilev, formed the New York City Ballet in 1948. Meanwhile, the Soviet government sponsored new ballet companies throughout the union. After a period of innovation and experimentation in the 1920s, Russia's ballet reverted under Stalin to the traditional forms of Petipa, even changing the plots of some ballets to emphasize the positive themes of socialist realism. The most influential Russian dancer of the mid-twentieth century was Rudolf Nureyev, who defected to the West in 1961 and is credited with establishing the dominant role of the male dancer in classical ballet. A second notable emigre, Mikhail Baryshnikov, burnished an already brilliant career in the United States after defecting from Leningrad's Kirov Ballet in 1974. The large cities of Russia traditionally have their own symphony orchestras and ballet and opera houses. Although funding for such facilities has diminished in the 1990s, attendance at performances remains high. The ballet companies of the Bol'shoy Theater in Moscow and the Kirov Theater in St. Petersburg are world renowned and have toured regularly since the early 1960s.
Authentic nickel-plated brass Russian podstakannik (or tea glass holder) devoted to the Soviet space achievements. Literally, podstakannik means 'under the glass' or 'for the glass'. Less expensive ones were used on Soviet trains during the Soviet era, while more expensive and elaborate ones have been used from time immemorial by Russian aristocracy, then by Soviet leaders, now by the new Russian capitalists. Your tea will taste Russian only when drunk from an original Russian glass holder imported from Moscow.
Dimensions: height: c. 14' diameter: c. 7.5' Metric: height: 35cm diameter: 18.75cm Volume: 3 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 220 volts, 1.25 KVt (no voltage converter necessary; simple plug adaptor would do) Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details The gorgeous 'Gzhel & Gold' electric samovar set in front of you consists of an authentic 'zhelud' (acorn)-shaped hand-painted Russian electric samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea), a handsome hand-painted tray and a beautiful hand-painted porcelain teapot. The whole set is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. Important: Slight variations in the painting pattern are acceptable, as each and every set is hand-painted; hence, unique and unparalleled. WARNING: Do not place the painted teapot on top of hot samovar. The paint will come off. Teapot may be put on top of samovar only when the latter is not in use. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Height: 12 2/4 inches (31.25cm). As all of our bottle holders, this wooden holder is handcrafted in the heart of Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional artist specialized in painting on wood. This bottle holder opens in the middle to fit a standard 0.5 ml vodka bottle or a bottle of similar size. May also be used as a treasure box. The bottle holder is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer to preserve the richness of paint color. Would make a great gift and/or a nice addition to dining accessories in your kitchen. Ships within 5-10 business days.
Authentic Russian nesting doll displaying scenes from the life of the Lord Jesus, painted in Russian Orthodox iconic style by an icon painter blessed in the Orthodox Church. Size: 7.2 inches (18cm). Consists of: 7 pieces. Finish: glossy (lacquer). Availability: ships within 20-30 business days. Origin: Russian Federation. As all of our nesting dolls, this set is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5 layers of crystal clear lacquer to preserve the richness of color for ages. The tallest doll in the set is signed by the artist.
Authentic Russian podstakannik or tea glass holder. Literally, podstakannik means 'under the glass' or 'for the glass'. Less expensive ones were used on Soviet trains during the Soviet era, while more expensive and elaborate ones have been used from time immemorial by Russian aristocracy, then by Soviet leaders, now by the new Russian capitalists. Your tea will taste Russian only when drunk from an original Russian glass holder imported from Moscow. And this is what we sell. A glass insert with a gold ring on top included with any glass holder order for FREE. Podstakannik always makes a great gift!
Size: approx. 4.4' x 2.4' Metric: 11cm x 6cm Type: porcelain Finish: glossy Availability: ships within 4-7 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details The authentic Russian porcelain egg in front of you is designed in a distinctive style of the world-famous Carl Faberge, Jeweler to the Russian Imperial Court. Each egg - being handpainted by a professional porcelain painter - stands regally on three golden legs. Each of the majestic eggs also has a hinged backing and is embraced by a golden rim finished with a miniature ribbon clasp. It may serve either as an elegant jewelry box or an exquisite table decoration.
This 5 piece nesting doll features portraits of Soviet leaders and Russian presidents alongside the US presidents from the same time in office. Starting with the largest doll: Medvedev-Obama, Bush-Putin, Clinton-Yeltsin, Gorbachev-Reagan, Brezhnev-Nixon. Size: approx. 6 1/2 inches (16.25cm). Finish: glossy (lacquer). Manufactured in Russia. Ships within 5-7 business days.
Authentic Russian podstakannik or tea glass holder. Literally, podstakannik means 'under the glass' or 'for the glass'. Less expensive ones were used on Soviet trains during the Soviet era, while more expensive and elaborate ones have been used from time immemorial by Russian aristocracy, then by Soviet leaders, now by the new Russian capitalists. Your tea will taste Russian only when drunk from an original Russian glass holder imported from Moscow. And this is what we sell. A glass insert with a gold ring on top included with any glass holder order for FREE. Podstakannik always makes a great gift!
Collection of 100 (one hundred) assorted Soviet pins and badges related to Vladimir I. Lenin. All pins and badges 100% original (made in the USSR). Imported from Moscow, Russia. Slight repetition within the quantity of 100 possible.
Collection of 100 (one hundred) assorted Soviet and Russian pins and badges related to Russian writers and composers. All pins and badges 100% original (made in the USSR and Russia). Imported from Moscow, Russia. Slight repetition within the quantity of 100 possible.
Dimensions: height: c. 18.8' Metric: height: 47cm Volume: 10 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 220 volts, 1.25 KVt (no voltage converter necessary; simple plug adaptor would do) Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: The 'Gorgeous Spring' electric samovar set in front of you consists of a large 10 liter 'banka' (jar)-shaped hand-painted Russian electric samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea), a handsome hand-painted tray and a beautiful hand-painted porcelain teapot. The whole set is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. Important: Slight variations in the painting pattern are acceptable, as each and every set is hand-painted; hence, unique and unparalleled. WARNING: Do not place the painted teapot on top of hot samovar. The paint will come off. Teapot may be put on top of samovar only when the latter is not in use. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Dimensions: diameter: c. 14' Metric: diameter: 35cm Volume: 6 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 220 volts, 1.25 KVt (no voltage converter necessary; simple plug adaptor would do) Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: The unique 'Russian Winter' electric samovar set in front of you consists of an authentic ball-shaped hand-painted Russian electric samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea), a handsome hand-painted tray and a beautiful hand-painted porcelain teapot. The whole set is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. Important: Slight variations in the painting pattern are acceptable, as each and every set is hand-painted; hence, unique and unparalleled. WARNING: Do not place the painted teapot on top of hot samovar. The paint will come off. Teapot may be put on top of samovar only when the latter is not in use. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Dimensions: height: c. 14' diameter: c. 7.5' Metric: height: 35cm diameter: 18.75cm Volume: 3 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 220 volts, 1.25 KVt (no voltage converter necessary; simple plug adaptor would do) Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: The gorgeous 'Spring' electric samovar set in front of you consists of an authentic 'zhelud' (acorn)-shaped hand-painted Russian electric samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea), a handsome hand-painted tray and a beautiful hand-painted porcelain teapot. The whole set is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. Important: Slight variations in the painting pattern are acceptable, as each and every set is hand-painted; hence, unique and unparalleled. WARNING: Do not place the painted teapot on top of hot samovar. The paint will come off. Teapot may be put on top of samovar only when the latter is not in use. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Unique hand-carved and handpainted Russian Christmas ornament imported from the capital of Russia, Moscow. Each and every one of our Christmas ornaments is an outstanding work of art - carved from wood and painted by a professional Russian decorative artist. They are so authentic that decorating your Christmas tree with them will give it a distinctive touch of the snowy festive Russia. .and of course they would make the best Christmas gifts this winter! Height: 3.5-5 inches. Price given per item. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Size: 7.6 x 6.4 x 4.8 inches. Russian jewelry box hand painted in the unique Khokhloma style. 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. Khokhloma painting (or Khokhloma) is characterized by the original technology of painting wood gold without the usage of the metal itself. Various combinations of such colors as red, black and golden are characteristic of Khokhloma painting. The box before you is not only a jewelry box. It is also a unique work of art. Treat yourself or your loved one to one of them, and it will be a gift to cherish for a lifetime. This box is 100% authentic. Fully hand made. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Author: L.N. Solovieva. Hardcover: 96 pages. This is a truly superb book that contains a both lot of valuable historical, and practical information. The book is fabulously illustrated with photographs of various kinds of Russian decorative eggs, containing plenty of examples of masterpieces produced by the modern-day Russian Easter egg artists. A 'must have' for every true collector of Russian decorative eggs! Ships: within 5-7 business days.
Length: 12.8 inches. Original Russian wooden animal figurine. Hand-carved by a Russian master. Imported from Moscow. 100% authentic. Great and beautiful gift idea. Ships within 7-10 business days.
Hand-carved wooden pipe imported from Moscow, Russia. 100% original. Wonderful luxurious gift from Russia. Fully usable. Ships within 5-7 business days.
Size: 5.2x6.8 inches. Unique hand-carved model of an airplane. Made by hand in Moscow, Russia. 100% authentic. Unique gift idea. Imported from Russia. Ships within 5-7 business days.
Size: 32 x 32 inches. Original Orenburg handmade shawl knitted from 100% genuine goat down. Soft and cozy, beautiful and elegant, highly durable and really unique (as each shawl is literally hand knitted). In comparison to the pashmina, these Russian shawls are much more attractive and refined. Each authentic Orenburg shawl is so finesse that it may be stretched through a wedding (or engagement) ring. The production of such a shawl is extremely labor-intensive, which reflects on the cost of the shawls. Wonderful addition to any women's outfit. Perfect engagement gift! Note: The item you receive may differ slightly due to the availability of the fabric and dye lots at the time of order. Every attempt will be made to make each item exactly as pictured or as close as possible.
Such hats have been worn throughout the centuries by Russian Cossacks living on the banks of the Kuban River. Manufactured by a top class fur hat manufacturer, this soft and cozy, 100% Astrakhan Fur (Karakul or Persian lamb) hat will keep your head warm in any weather.
'Inspiration' classic Russian dark chocolate bar produced by the 'Babaevsky' confectionery factory in Moscow. Weight: 100 g. Ships next business day. Comes in packs of 3. Please use the checkout comment form to indicate your preference for an assortment of similar bars. One bar may only be ordered in combination with a product from any category other than Keychains or Magnets. Wholesale discounts are available.
Size: approx. 6.5' Metric: 16.25cm Consists of: 5 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the largest one is signed by artist. The set displays Russian women in traditional national dresses. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: CLOTHES IN OLD RUSSIA Clothes can tell us about the people who wear them: about their class, their rank, their job, their country. Now one can see traditional Russian costumes in museums or during Russian village holidays. RussianLegacy.com is giving everyone an opportunity of seeing Russian costumes on our nesting dolls. Costumes were worn during important holidays: during Easter, during the Trinity day festivities and during weddings. Sewn over hundred years ago, the costumes have been kept as family heirlooms by a number of generations of villagers. The costume showed the differentiation between people of different social positions. Their costumes reveal their conception of the world and their way of life. The Russian costume is richly decorated and specific cloth and colors were used. Each region had its own kind of costume. The men's costumes include: a shirt with a slanted cut to the collar, narrow pants, belts, hats and boots. The women's costume include: a long-sleeved shirt, a sarafan, a short jacket (called 'dushegreya'), a kokoshnik (head-dress) and short boots. These costumes reveal their conception of the world and the beauty of morals. The costumes reflect the villagers' own taste in ornamentation, favorite colors, and particular way of wearing specific articles. There is a typical old Russian conception of beauty. The ideal of a beautiful woman was considered to be a tall, strong and stately woman with red cheeks, blue eyes and blonde hair. Wearing the village's costume, a woman reveals the social status and her age. Young married women wore mainly clothes with bright colors, and their costumes were adorned with a great number of beads, buttons and necklaces. Old women wore black, white and brown colors. Married women wore the scarf in such a way that completely covered the hair. People believed that a woman with uncovered hair can bring misfortune to her family. The young, unmarried women wore their scarves in such a way as to reveal the hair and braid. But every social class wore specific clothes. Rich people tried to show their wealth and prosperity through their clothes. Russian Clothes Vocabulary Kokoshnik - woman's head-dress in old Russia Shuba - a fur coat Sarafan - a long woman's dress covering feet and having the form of a high skirt with straps or sleeveless chemise worn over one with sleeves Sermyaga - a kind of rough woolen cloth used for peasant clothing Kosovorotka - a shirt with a narrow stand up collar and an off-center slit or button closure shifted to the left or the right Onuchi - long narrow strips of cloth (up to two meters in length) over which lapti (bastshows) were worn Ponyova - a kind of skirt made of three lengths of cloth and ornamented with embroidery, lace, spangles and beads Perednik - an apron that served to keep the clothes clean; on holidays it was used as a decoration Valenki - felt boots Kaftan - garment Tulup - sheepskin
Unique hand-carved and handpainted Russian Christmas ornament imported from the capital of Russia, Moscow. Each and every one of our Christmas ornaments is an outstanding work of art - carved from wood and painted by a professional Russian decorative artist. They are so authentic that decorating your Christmas tree with them will give it a distinctive touch of the snowy festive Russia. .and of course they would make the best Christmas gifts this winter! Height: 3.5-5 inches. Price given per item. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Size: approx. 9.6' x 6' Metric: 24 x 15cm Nature: cobalt painted porcelain Finish: glazed (glossy) Availability: ships within 7-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all Gzhel works this charming porcelain cutting board was first created in a plaster form being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form was painted by cobalt. The background was kept white. Then the painting was covered by glaze. Glaze fused and made the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. This is a top quality Russian Gzhel porcelain work that would make a fancy gift to anyone. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: GZHEL PORCELAIN Gzhel porcelain decorated with fancy blue painting has acquired wide popularity in the whole wide world. Its value consists in its uniqueness and decorativeness. Gzhel ware is decorated with flowers, leaves, bunches and garlands of flowers. They are painted with the only colour - blue cobalt, which is sometimes laid wide and rich dab and other times in hardly noticeable touch of the brush. Touches of different intensity create a rich, bright and very impressive picture. The history of Gzhel porcelain began in the seventeenth century. The porcelain took the name 'Gzhel' after the village Gzhel which is situated in Moscow gerion. The first documentary evidence about the village dates back to the 1339 ecclesiastical charter of the Russian tzar Ivan Kalita. There, at the distance of 60km from Moscow people had been long engaged in pottery. Archaeological discoveries confirm the existence of pottery on Gzhel territory since the beginning of the fourteenth century. Gzhel crafters have always made not only table-ware, but also small genre sculpture. These works depicted animals and people in action. From time to time entire scenes of rural or urban life were depicted in such sculptures. For example: traditional tea-drinking, beauties walking or sitting at work, hens, roosters, birds and so on. All works have a uniting feature - hand-made fancy blue painting on white background. They are all truly hand-made! The artist paints every cup or vase with a brush. That is why there are no two similar works, each one being really unique and keeping the style of its creator. Gzhel craftsmen are true artists that join talent and centuries-old experience of their predecessors. However, hand-made works are labour-intensive. They always come in small numbers, which often cannot meet the demand. Even in Russia not many people have Gzhel ware; and collectors are very proud of their collections. The original ware has the hallmark 'Gzhel' which confirms its authenticity and quality. All Gzhel works are created in plaster forms being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form is painted by cobalt. Usually the background stays white. Then painting is covered by glaze. Glaze fuses and makes the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. Ornaments of gzhel items are normally based on plants and flowers (roses are the most widely distributed kinds of gzhel patterns). Modern Gzhel art is charming, cheerful and original. It soaks up the beauty of Russian nature and reserved, strong and expressive spirit of Russian people. Today Gzhel is going through its golden age. There appear magnificent works with their mysterious dark blue shades floating through the light field. Fabulous patterns, garlands, free touches coupled with subtle drawings - all of this makes Gzhel ware original, decorative and attractive. It is nice to use Gzhel tableware. It has become very popular lately. Many collectors have been collecting it. White and blue articles decorate houses in different parts of the world. In our age of stamped fashion the thirst for original things - made not by a machine but by man's hands - continuously increases. The value of such things will undoubtedly increase with time.
Size: approx. 3.2' x 4' Metric: 8 x 10cm Nature: cobalt painted porcelain Finish: glazed (glossy) Availability: ships within 7-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all Gzhel works this charming porcelain Santa sculpture was first created in a plaster form being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form was painted by cobalt. The background was kept white. Then the painting was covered by glaze. Glaze fused and made the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. This is a top quality Russian Gzhel porcelain work that would make a fancy gift to anyone. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: GZHEL PORCELAIN Gzhel porcelain decorated with fancy blue painting has acquired wide popularity in the whole wide world. Its value consists in its uniqueness and decorativeness. Gzhel ware is decorated with flowers, leaves, bunches and garlands of flowers. They are painted with the only colour - blue cobalt, which is sometimes laid wide and rich dab and other times in hardly noticeable touch of the brush. Touches of different intensity create a rich, bright and very impressive picture. The history of Gzhel porcelain began in the seventeenth century. The porcelain took the name 'Gzhel' after the village Gzhel which is situated in Moscow region. The first documentary evidence about the village dates back to the 1339 ecclesiastical charter of the Russian tzar Ivan Kalita. There, at the distance of 60km from Moscow people had been long engaged in pottery. Archaeological discoveries confirm the existence of pottery on Gzhel territory since the beginning of the fourteenth century. Gzhel crafters have always made not only table-ware, but also small genre sculpture. These works depicted animals and people in action. From time to time entire scenes of rural or urban life were depicted in such sculptures. For example: traditional tea-drinking, beauties walking or sitting at work, hens, roosters, birds and so on. All works have a uniting feature - hand-made fancy blue painting on white background. They are all truly hand-made! The artist paints every cup or vase with a brush. That is why there are no two similar works, each one being really unique and keeping the style of its creator. Gzhel craftsmen are true artists that join talent and centuries-old experience of their predecessors. However, hand-made works are labour-intensive. They always come in small numbers, which often cannot meet the demand. Even in Russia not many people have Gzhel ware; and collectors are very proud of their collections. The original ware has the hallmark 'Gzhel' which confirms its authenticity and quality. All Gzhel works are created in plaster forms being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form is painted by cobalt. Usually the background stays white. Then painting is covered by glaze. Glaze fuses and makes the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. Ornaments of gzhel items are normally based on plants and flowers (roses are the most widely distributed kinds of gzhel patterns). Modern Gzhel art is charming, cheerful and original. It soaks up the beauty of Russian nature and reserved, strong and expressive spirit of Russian people. Today Gzhel is going through its golden age. There appear magnificent works with their mysterious dark blue shades floating through the light field. Fabulous patterns, garlands, free touches coupled with subtle drawings - all of this makes Gzhel ware original, decorative and attractive. It is nice to use Gzhel tableware. It has become very popular lately. Many collectors have been collecting it. White and blue articles decorate houses in different parts of the world. In our age of stamped fashion the thirst for original things - made not by a machine but by man's hands - continuously increases. The value of such things will undoubtedly increase with time.
Genuine Russian brooch hand painted in Fedoskino style on the mother of pearl shell. Hand lacquered to preserve the richness of color for ages. It is an exquisite work of art, 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would make a brilliant gift to anyone interested in Russia, its cultural and artistic heritage. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Gorgeous 20 piece nesting / stacking doll called the 'Spring Bouquet'. The set is of superb quality, and would make a wonderful gift to anyone. Size: approx. 8 inches (20cm). Consists of: 20 pieces. Finish: glossy (lacquer). Availability: ships within 10-15 business days. Origin: Russian Federation. As all of our nesting dolls, this set is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the tallest one is signed by artist.
Beautiful nesting / stacking doll set devoted to Chinese leaders from Mao to Zemin. The set is of excellent quality, and would definitely make a unique gift. Size: approx. 6 1/2 inches (16.25cm). Consists of: 5 pieces. Finish: glossy (lacquer). Availability: ships within 5-7 business days. Origin: Russian Federation. As all of our nesting dolls, this 5 piece set is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the tallest one is signed by artist.
Authentic Russian podstakannik or tea glass holder. Literally, podstakannik means 'under the glass' or 'for the glass'. Less expensive ones were used on Soviet trains during the Soviet era, while more expensive and elaborate ones have been used from time immemorial by Russian aristocracy, then by Soviet leaders, now by the new Russian capitalists. Your tea will taste Russian only when drunk from an original Russian glass holder imported from Moscow. And this is what we sell.
Size: approx. 9' Metric: 22-23cm Consists of: 10 pieces Finish: matte Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. The whole set is made using a woodburning technique in combination with a beautiful golden metal incrustation. Each doll has a gentle matte finish. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN CHURCHES & CATHEDRALS Orthodox Christianity was brought to Russia during the time of Vladimir, Grand Prince of Kiev, during the twelfth century. Vladimir sent representatives to distant lands to study the religions of other civilizations. They reported back to him saying: Then we went to Greece, and the Greeks led us to where they worship their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendor or such beauty, and we are at a loss how to describe it. We only know that God dwells there among men. (The Russian Primary Chronicle) Bishops from Greece traveled to Russia to spread the faith, and Vladimir and many of his countrymen were converted to Christianity. The history of Russia was always characterized by invasions from foreign enemies, such as the Tartar Khans, in which the people sought to defend their homeland. By the 16th century the Khans suppressed the independence of the Russian lands, exacting monetary tribute, and prohibiting the unhindered practice of the Orthodox Christianity by the Russian peoples. It was primarily the desire for political and economic freedom, and the desire for the freedom to worship in the Orthodox Christian manner, which lead the Russian Czar Ivan Grozny to lead an army of 150,000 upon the Tartar stronghold at the city of Kazan in the summer of 1552. On the Orthodox Feast Day of the Protection of the Theotokos, called 'the Pokhrov' (October 1, 1552) the army marched on Kazan. The following day the city fell to the armies of Ivan. The victory was attributed to the intercessions of the Theotokos (the Mother of God) on behalf of the Russian people. Some 3 years later in 1555 the Czar ordered the beginning of the construction of the Pokhrovsky Cathedral in commemoration of this victory. The Cathedral of the Pokhrov, commonly called St. Basil's Cathedral, is one of the most prominent landmarks in Russia, and one of the most spectacular buildings in the world. It is recognized the world over as a symbol of Russia and of the Russian Orthodox Church. After Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, Russia continued for several centuries to develop a national art that had grown out of the middle Byzantine period. During the 10th-15th centuries, Russian art had begun to show marked local variation from the Byzantine model, and after the fall of Constantinople it continued along these distinctive lines of development. This period of Russian art, which lasted until the adoption of western European culture in the 18th century, is also known as the Moscow or National period. During the Moscow period, churches in Russia began to develop a style all their own. The following brief essay describes well the changes in Russian architecture: After the hegemony in the world of Orthodox Christianity shifted to Muscovite Russia, Moscow, having become the new city of Constantine-the 'third Rome'-and aspiring to rival the older centres of culture, launched a building program commensurate with its international importance. The Kremlin and two of its important churches were rebuilt by Italian architects between 1475 and 1510. These churches, the Assumption (Uspensky) Cathedral and the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, were largely modeled after the churches of Vladimir. The Italians were required to incorporate the basic features of Byzantine planning and design into the new cathedrals; it was only in the exterior decoration of St. Michael the Archangel that they succeeded in introducing Italian decorative motifs. A third church, the modest Annunciation Cathedral (1484-89), with its warm beauty, was the work of Pskov architects. There the kokoshniki were introduced in the treatment of the roof. This element, similar in outline to the popular Russian bochka roof (pointed on top, with the sides forming a continuous double curve, concave above and convex below), foreshadowed a tendency to replace the forms of the Byzantine arch by more elongated silhouettes. Ecclesiastical architecture began to lose the special features associated with the Byzantine heritage, becoming more national in character and increasingly permeated with the taste and thought of the people. The most important change in Russian church design of the 16th century was the introduction of the tiered tower and the tent-shaped roof first developed in wood by Russia's carpenters. Next was the substitution of the bulb-shaped spire for the traditional Byzantine cupola. This affected the design of masonry architecture by transforming its proportions and decoration and even its structural methods. The buildings acquired a dynamic, exteriorized articulation and specifically Russian national characteristics. The boldest departures from Byzantine architecture were the churches of the Ascension at Kolomenskoye (1532) and the Decapitation of St. John the Baptist at Dyakovo (c. 1532) and, above all, the Cathedral of St. Basil (Vasily) the Blessed (or, the Pokrovsky Cathedral) in Moscow, 1554-60. In St. Basil the western academic architectural concepts, based on rational, manifest harmony, were ignored; the structure, with no easily readable design and a profusion of disparate colourful exterior decoration, is uniquely medieval Russian in content and form, in technique, decoration, and feeling. St. Basil, like its predecessors the churches at Kolomenskoye and Dyakovo, embodies the characteristic features of the wood churches of northern Russia, translated into masonry. An effective finishing touch was given to the ensemble of the Kremlin's Cathedral Square by the erection of the imposing Belfry of Ivan II the Great, begun in 1542. The colossal white stone 'column of fame,' with its golden cupola gleaming above the Kremlin hill, was the definite expression of an era, reflecting the tastes and grandiose political ambitions of the rising Russian state. (Russian Orthodox Church)
World-famous hat favored by such Soviet General Secretaries as Leonid Brezhnev and Mikhail Gorbachev. Manufactured by the top class fur hat manufacturer in the capital of Moldova, this soft and cozy 100% Persian lamb hat will keep your head warm in any weather. Color: black. Size: 7 (56cm). Ships next business day.
Diameter: 3' (7.6cm). Painting: 180 degrees around. Each ornament is blown and shaped by skilled Klinsky artisans before being hand-painted. The region, located northwest of Moscow, has long been famous for its artisan style hand-blown glass crafts. In 1848, Prince Aleksandr Menshikov, the great-grandson of Peter the Great's favorite prince and confidant, was commissioned to establish a glass factory in his estate Aleksandrovo. The factory had three wood fired kilns serving over 80 artisans and craftsmen dedicated to the production of lamps, bottles, and colored glass products. The first of its kind in Russia, the factory later started blowing beads and balls as Christmas tree decorations. The ornament before you has been pipe blown and hand-painted by the same family for over 150 years. It is made of high quality medical-grade glass and painted using EU-certified materials that are designed specifically for this type of production. Ships in packs of 4 or 20 within 4 business days. Please use the checkout comment form to indicate your preference for an assortment of similar items. Express shipping is the only available option for non-U.S. customers.
Authentic Russian soccer fan scarf in imperial colors. Made in Russia. Imported from Moscow. Warm and comfortable. Will keep you warm at a game or in cold weather. And, if you ever get to the game of any Russian national team, you could always hold it high cheering for them.
Size: approx. 8' Metric: 20cm Consists of: 7 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the largest one is signed by artist. The whole set displays minuatures painted according to the famous Pushkin's fairy tale 'Ruslan and Ludmila'. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSLAN & LUDMILA (Short Summary) A favorite among Russian tales, Ruslan and Ludmila was written in poetic form by Russia's most beloved writer, Alexander Pushkin. It was later the basis of Glinka's most successful opera. Here is a brief synopsis of the story, below which is a translation of the full text. Once upon a time, in a land far away there was a great feast celebrating the marriage of the land's greatest warrior, Ruslan, to the land's most beautiful maiden, Ludmila. But tragedy happened upon the feast when the bride was kidnapped by the dwarf magician Chernomor. Enraged, Ludmila's father declared that only the warrior who rescues his daughter would be her husband. Ruslan and his rivals Farlaf, Ratmir, and Rogdai prepared to rescue the beautiful girl. Only Ruslan understood that he would have to overcome great feats and magical powers to rescue his bride. Rogdai killed Ratmir and then attacked Ruslan. But Ruslan won the fight, and threw Rogdai into the River Dnieper. Ruslan wandered further into the unknown where he entered a thick fog and came upon a giant magic head. Underneath the head was a knife, which he knew he must retrieve. Ruslan defeated the head and took the knife. He then was able to defeat Chernomor. He used this knife to cut off the dwarf's beard, thus having diminished the dwarf's magical powers. Having defeated Chernomor, Ruslan found his bride in a magical garden, he rescued Ludmila and took her back to the feast where they were finally married.
Size: approx. 8.4' x 6.8' Metric: 21 x 17cm Finish: oil varnish (glossy) Availability: ships within 5-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our Zhostovo trays this small 'Spring' tray is handpainted in the village of Zhostovo, Russian Federation. It is manufactured according to the old Zhostovo painting tradition the details of which you may find below. This is a top quality 100% authentic Russian Zhostovo tray that would make an excellent gift to anyone. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: ZHOSTOVO PAINTING Zhostovo painting is one of the traditional types of Russian decorative work developed in the village of Zhostovo of Mytishi region, Moscow oblast. It appeared at the beginning of 19th century under the influence of Ural flower painting on metal. Zhostovo painting is essentially drawing on metal trays preliminarily covered by several layers of thick putty and oil varnish (normally, of black color). The painting itself is accomplished in several consequent stages; soft brush and oil-colors (richly mixed with linseed-oil) create an impression of an energetic and elastic touch. Stylistic development of Zhostovo painting is closely related to Russian porcelain and enamel painting of Moscow region's plants and factories, as well as with the flower motifs of printed Ivanovo cottons and P.V. Lukutin miniature. The main motif of Zhostovo painting - a flower bouquet - is simple and laconic in its composition: larger garden flowers are combined with smaller wild flowers; the actual shape of a flower is conveyed through a three-dimensional painting technique; and all this is being brought together by a decorative richness of multi-color solution closely related to the traditional Russian brush-painting on chests and distaffs. Tray edges are finished with a golden ornamental pattern (also known as 'uborka'). The completed painting is covered by three layers of light varnish, being further polished to mirror luster.
Height: 30cm (approx. 12') Diameter: 15cm (approx. 6') Consists of: 20 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 20-25 business days Origin: Russian Federation PRODUCT DETAILS: This is an exclusive quality nesting doll (detailed painting coupled with multi-layer lacquer coating) handcrafted and handpainted in the heart Russia. It was first handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 7-9 layers of crystal clear lacquer, and the largest one is signed by artist. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: TWENTY RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES Each doll in this set stands for a separate fairy tale. The full list of tales (starting from the largest piece and going through the smallest) may be found below. Fairy tales written by particular Russian writers and/or poets have appropriate notes next to their titles (e.g.: 'by Pushkin'). Others are folk fairy tales. Humpbacked Little Pony - by Yershov Swan Princess (Tale of Tsar Saltan) - by Pushkin Golden Cockerel - by Pushkin Geese & Swans Golden Fish - by Pushkin Scarlet Flower Frog Princess Dead Princess & Seven Bogatyrs - by Pushkin Ruslan & Ludmila - by Pushkin Snowmaiden Hostess of the Copper Mountain - by Bazhov Prince Ivan and the Gray Wolf By Pike's Wish Father Frost (Morozko) Sister Alyonushka & Brother Ivanushka Masha & the Bear Vasilisa the Beautiful Turnip Fire Bird Kolobok. The nesting doll before you has been handmade by a Russian artist that loves fairy tales and has pictured scenes from twenty different ones on this gorgeous 20 pc matryoshka.
Size: approx. 4.4' Metric: 11cm Consists of: 7 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 5-10 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. It is handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer. The tallest doll is signed by the artist. The set displays a typical Russian (rural Russia) family, hospitable and welcoming. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN HOSPITALITY Should you be lucky enough to be invited to a Russian home for dinner be assured that you will get the best of what's on hand and plenty of it. Russians are famed for their hospitality and love to invite people over in order to thoroughly stuff them. It is expected that a guest will accept all that is offered and your host may be offended should you decline. Be prepared for staunch arguments on the part of your host as to why you should eat the lump of raw pork fat or drink the glass of home-made sweet elderberry wine stuck in front of you. When invited to a Russian's apartment for a dinner party it is considered de rigueur to bring something along, usually alcohol and perhaps flowers for the hostess. People often dress up as if they were going out to a fancy restaurant, and women take nice shoes with them in a bag in order to avoid the ridiculous situation of being in their finest evening dress and sliding around in tapochki. Drinks are usually preceeed by toasts (sometimes taking the form of long speeches) and much glass clinking. Often the revelry lasts well into the night and can include singing and dancing until people pass-out or go home. Copyright '1 VIP Dating'
Authentic Russian red-and-black sweatshirt with the Russian eagle on the left-hand side of the chest. 100% original product. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Dimensions: height: c. 14' Metric: height: 35cm Volume: 3 liters Type: electric / functional Voltage: 110 / 220 volts Availability: ships within 6-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details This unique nickel-plated 'Cup' samovar is an authentic electric Russian samovar (fully functional and ready to make tea) of a rare shape; manufactured in the Soviet Union back in 1966 (in the times of Leonid Brezhnev). It is 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would definitely make a wonderful gift to anyone interested in Russian culture. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: SAMOVAR HISTORY Samovar is a purely Russian invention. It is used for making tea. In the 17th century tea was delivered to Russia from the territory of West Mongolia and it was used as medicine among the nobility. Tea was a competitor of 'sbiten', the most favourite drink in Russia back then. Its components were: hot water, medicinal herbs and honey. In the 18th century in the Urals and Tula samovar-kitchens were invented. They were divided into three parts - two of them devoted to meals cooking, and the third one wholly devoted to tea-making. Sbitennik and samovar-kitchen were samovar prototypes. There were different ways of manufacturing the first samovars. Samovars were produced in the Urals, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Tula; and later in Vladimirskaya, Yaroslavskaya and Vyatskaya provinces. The first samovar factory was founded in Tula by Nasar Usitsin in 1778. This town of gunsmiths became famous throughout the world as the center of samovar manufacture. Tula had everything that was needed for such industry: rich ore mines, highly qualified masters skilled in working metals and location (Tula is situated only 200 kilometres south of Moscow). Samovar manufacture soon became to be very profitable. Handicraftsmen were quickly turning into manufacturers; workshops were transformed into samovar manufactures. In 1826 there were only eight samovar factories, whereas in 1896 there were already seventy. Samovars were made out of cupronickel, red and green copper, pinchbeck, and in special cases - out of silver. Some samovars were plated with gold or silver, but brass was always the basic metal. In the course of the centuries samovar shapes changed. By the end of the 19th century the number of samovar types reached 165. Yet, it was almost impossible to fully mechanize the samovars manufacture. Tools used for samovar making were not changing and by hand assembly allowed for only five-six samovars to be produced per day. The highest peak of samovar manufacture in Tula was reached in the 80s of the 19th century. Samovar was not only a feature of home comfort, the symbol of Russian hospitality, but also a kind of a mascot. Among articles of folk domestic art samovars occupy a special place. They are often viewed not only as domestic utensils, but also as real works of applied arts. Each true samovar master always wanted to astonish his customers by his creativity. Conservative design and durability in combination with decorative qualities draw interest to samovars of the people all over the world. Tula samovars were represented at many exhibitions in Russia and abroad. Manufacturers taking part at the exhibitions were constantly awarded with medals, the reprints of which often appeared on their samovars after that. Tula samovars were spread all over Russia. At the fairs one could find samovars of very different shapes: vase-shaped, pear-shaped, wine-glass-shaped, etc. Prices reduction in the process of manufacture caused standardization of samovar shapes. The so-called cylindrical samovars became widely spread. Originally Tula produced coal samovars (the water in them was heated up by charcoal), kerosene samovars and combined variants, the water in which could be heated up by any kind of fuel. Prices were set in direct dependence with shape, material and dimension of a samovar. Simple samovars were sold in bulk. Articles of complicated shapes (presents, samovars made to order) were sold by the piece. During the whole of the 19th century portable samovars were produced in Tula. As a rule, they were multi-sided, cubic and right-angled. Over the two hundred years, production technology improved considerably. Now presses and conveyor lines are widely employed. Casting under pressure is also widespread. At 'Shtamp' plant nickel-plating automatic line was introduced. Samovars here are decorated by art rolling. The plant produces samovars of different types: coal (of six versions) and - from 1956 - electrical (volume 2-3 litres; for buffets), combined and painted. Folk traditions keep on existing and developing. Gorgeous samovars - authentic works of art - are still produced in Russia. Samovars are still awarded with prizes and medals at national and international exhibitions.
Genuine Russian brooch hand painted in Fedoskino style on the mother of pearl shell. Hand lacquered to preserve the richness of color for ages. It is an exquisite work of art, 100% original, made and imported from Russia. Would make a brilliant gift to anyone interested in Russia, its cultural and artistic heritage. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Size: diameter: approx. 10'; depth: 4' Metric: diameter: 25cm; depth: 10cm Nature: cobalt painted porcelain Finish: glazed (glossy) Availability: ships within 7-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all Gzhel works this charming porcelain fruit basket was first created in a plaster form being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form was painted by cobalt. The background was kept white. Then the painting was covered by glaze. Glaze fused and made the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. This is a top quality Russian Gzhel porcelain work that would make a fancy gift to anyone. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: GZHEL PORCELAIN Gzhel porcelain decorated with fancy blue painting has acquired wide popularity in the whole wide world. Its value consists in its uniqueness and decorativeness. Gzhel ware is decorated with flowers, leaves, bunches and garlands of flowers. They are painted with the only colour - blue cobalt, which is sometimes laid wide and rich dab and other times in hardly noticeable touch of the brush. Touches of different intensity create a rich, bright and very impressive picture. The history of Gzhel porcelain began in the seventeenth century. The porcelain took the name 'Gzhel' after the village Gzhel which is situated in Moscow region. The first documentary evidence about the village dates back to the 1339 ecclesiastical charter of the Russian tzar Ivan Kalita. There, at the distance of 60km from Moscow people had been long engaged in pottery. Archaeological discoveries confirm the existence of pottery on Gzhel territory since the beginning of the fourteenth century. Gzhel crafters have always made not only table-ware, but also small genre sculpture. These works depicted animals and people in action. From time to time entire scenes of rural or urban life were depicted in such sculptures. For example: traditional tea-drinking, beauties walking or sitting at work, hens, roosters, birds and so on. All works have a uniting feature - hand-made fancy blue painting on white background. They are all truly hand-made! The artist paints every cup or vase with a brush. That is why there are no two similar works, each one being really unique and keeping the style of its creator. Gzhel craftsmen are true artists that join talent and centuries-old experience of their predecessors. However, hand-made works are labour-intensive. They always come in small numbers, which often cannot meet the demand. Even in Russia not many people have Gzhel ware; and collectors are very proud of their collections. The original ware has the hallmark 'Gzhel' which confirms its authenticity and quality. All Gzhel works are created in plaster forms being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form is painted by cobalt. Usually the background stays white. Then painting is covered by glaze. Glaze fuses and makes the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. Ornaments of gzhel items are normally based on plants and flowers (roses are the most widely distributed kinds of gzhel patterns). Modern Gzhel art is charming, cheerful and original. It soaks up the beauty of Russian nature and reserved, strong and expressive spirit of Russian people. Today Gzhel is going through its golden age. There appear magnificent works with their mysterious dark blue shades floating through the light field. Fabulous patterns, garlands, free touches coupled with subtle drawings - all of this makes Gzhel ware original, decorative and attractive. It is nice to use Gzhel tableware. It has become very popular lately. Many collectors have been collecting it. White and blue articles decorate houses in different parts of the world. In our age of stamped fashion the thirst for original things - made not by a machine but by man's hands - continuously increases. The value of such things will undoubtedly increase with time.
Size: approx. 10.8' x 7.2' x 5.6' Metric: 27 x 18 x 14cm Nature: cobalt painted porcelain Finish: glazed (glossy) Availability: ships within 7-15 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all Gzhel works this charming porcelain clock was first created in a plaster form being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form was painted by cobalt. The background was kept white. Then the painting was covered by glaze. Glaze fused and made the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. This is a top quality Russian Gzhel porcelain work that would make a fancy gift to anyone. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: GZHEL PORCELAIN Gzhel porcelain decorated with fancy blue painting has acquired wide popularity in the whole wide world. Its value consists in its uniqueness and decorativeness. Gzhel ware is decorated with flowers, leaves, bunches and garlands of flowers. They are painted with the only colour - blue cobalt, which is sometimes laid wide and rich dab and other times in hardly noticeable touch of the brush. Touches of different intensity create a rich, bright and very impressive picture. The history of Gzhel porcelain began in the seventeenth century. The porcelain took the name 'Gzhel' after the village Gzhel which is situated in Moscow region. The first documentary evidence about the village dates back to the 1339 ecclesiastical charter of the Russian tzar Ivan Kalita. There, at the distance of 60km from Moscow people had been long engaged in pottery. Archaeological discoveries confirm the existence of pottery on Gzhel territory since the beginning of the fourteenth century. Gzhel crafters have always made not only table-ware, but also small genre sculpture. These works depicted animals and people in action. From time to time entire scenes of rural or urban life were depicted in such sculptures. For example: traditional tea-drinking, beauties walking or sitting at work, hens, roosters, birds and so on. All works have a uniting feature - hand-made fancy blue painting on white background. They are all truly hand-made! The artist paints every cup or vase with a brush. That is why there are no two similar works, each one being really unique and keeping the style of its creator. Gzhel craftsmen are true artists that join talent and centuries-old experience of their predecessors. However, hand-made works are labour-intensive. They always come in small numbers, which often cannot meet the demand. Even in Russia not many people have Gzhel ware; and collectors are very proud of their collections. The original ware has the hallmark 'Gzhel' which confirms its authenticity and quality. All Gzhel works are created in plaster forms being cast from liquid porcelain mass. After the first burning the form is painted by cobalt. Usually the background stays white. Then painting is covered by glaze. Glaze fuses and makes the surface of the work glassy, giving cobalt its blue colour. Ornaments of gzhel items are normally based on plants and flowers (roses are the most widely distributed kinds of gzhel patterns). Modern Gzhel art is charming, cheerful and original. It soaks up the beauty of Russian nature and reserved, strong and expressive spirit of Russian people. Today Gzhel is going through its golden age. There appear magnificent works with their mysterious dark blue shades floating through the light field. Fabulous patterns, garlands, free touches coupled with subtle drawings - all of this makes Gzhel ware original, decorative and attractive. It is nice to use Gzhel tableware. It has become very popular lately. Many collectors have been collecting it. White and blue articles decorate houses in different parts of the world. In our age of stamped fashion the thirst for original things - made not by a machine but by man's hands - continuously increases. The value of such things will undoubtedly increase with time.
Size: approx. 10' Metric: 25cm Consists of: 10 pieces Finish: glossy (lacquer) Availability: ships within 7-12 business days Origin: Russian Federation Product Details As all of our nesting dolls, this one is handcrafted in the heart Russia. This particular one is made in the city of Vladimir. It is first handturned from linden wood and then handpainted by a professional nesting doll artist. It is a typical nesting doll, and each smaller piece of the set fits into the next larger one. Each doll is coated with 3-5 layers of crystal clear lacquer, displaying beautiful scenes of traditional Russian winter. MORE INFO / RELATED STORY: RUSSIAN CLIMATE & VISITING RUSSIA Most of Russia has a continental climate the winters are bone chilling and the summers can be boiling. The swings are most extreme in southern and central Siberia, but even in Moscow temperatures can range from -30 to 30 Celsius (-20 to 100 Fahrenheit). The Black Sea coast and its resort communities tend to have the least swing. Late spring, early summer and the fall are good times to visit. During the hot summer months of July and August cities shut down as locals head to the countryside to live off the land at their dachas. In the beginning of September the ballets and the operas start back up and the cities come to life again. (The performing arts season runs from about September to May, although there are occasional shows in the summer, especially during St. Petersburg's White Nights Festival in June.) The first real cold hits Moscow and St. Petersburg sometime in November and there's usually snow on the ground from December through April. If you're prepared for the cold, Russia is often at its most beautiful under a blanket of snow. Winter is also the peak of the theater season and generally has fewer tourists. Steer clear of the mud and slush that covers the country during the spring thaw (April to May) and late fall. Copyright 'The MoscowTimes'
Authentic shawl by the world-famous textile factory of Pavlovo Posad, Russia. Fabric: silk (crepe georgette). Pattern by Olga Semenova. Size: 31x31' (84x84cm). Comes in packs of 2. Please use the checkout comment form to indicate your preference for the assortment of similar scarves. Ships from Moscow within 7 business days.
Authentic shawl by the world-famous textile factory of Pavlovo Posad, Russia. Fabric: dense wool (twill weave). Fringe: silk (hand-crocheted). Pattern by Elena Zhukova. Size: 58.3x58.3' (148x148cm). Ships from Moscow within 7 business days.
Height: 5 3/5 inches. Price listed per item. Hand carved wooden Santa figurine, made of lime-tree, imported from Moscow, Russia. Hand painted by a professional Russian artisan; and covered with glitter and several layers of crystal clear lacquer (to make its bright fine coloring last for years). Festive pattern coat gives the Santa its gorgeous Christmas look. Most of our Santas are also signed by the artists that made them. Russian hand carved wooden Santas always make most excellent and unforgettable Christmas gifts. Make sure you get some for your loved ones this Christmas!
Red cotton T-shirt featuring a portrait of Vladimir Ulyanov (Lenin) against a background of Soviet propaganda words in both Russian and English. Hand wash only. Ships within 7 business days. Imported from Moscow, Russia.
Height: 5 2/4 inches (13.75cm). Hand cut, hand painted and hand lacquered in Russia. Portrays a blonde Russian boy in a winter coat, fur hat and scarf, holding his Christmas gift, a tiny locomotive. May be personalized to your order. The tilting doll, or nevalyashka as the Russians call them, does not open like a nesting doll, but rocks from side to side at your touch, emitting a delightful chiming sound. Kids love them. Make sure to treat yours for one of them! Ships within 7 business days.
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