Lacquer Miniature
Traditional lacquer painting on decorative and applied art objects
Lacquer miniature is the most exquisite tradition of artistic painting on objects covered with lacquer: caskets, panels, snuffboxes. It is based on detailed pictorial compositions, often in fairy-tale or historical genre. Masters apply images with the finest brushes, using tempera or gouache followed by a multi-layer lacquer coating.
Special importance is given to gloss, color saturation, and the finest detailing — one casket can have up to fifty layers of lacquer! Series of lacquer miniatures often tell entire epic stories.
Interestingly, it was once believed that the "thicker" the lacquer, the higher the customer's wealth — lacquer served not only as protection but also as status.
This art form came from China and Japan, and in Russia, for example, it developed into independent famous schools: Palekh, Fedoskino, and others. Oriental lacquer miniature not only delights the eye but also transports one into a world of legends and history.