Jojlomá

Jojlomá painting is a kind of popular Russian craft that emerged in the province of Nizhny Novgorod in the seventeenth century and named after a large market town, Jojlomá, which came all the works made of wood.

Although at first the development of tools took place only in monasteries and was only used by the tsar's court, eventually extended its production to different workshops.

The technology of gold objects made of wood, which is rooted in the creation of icons, is preserved to this day almost unchanged. It consists of five fundamental processes. Before becoming 'gold', the wooden vessels may seem 'mud' or 'silver'.

First, is carved on the lathe dried linden wood: Earned pots, vases, spoons, ladles and cups. Then dried and covered with a primer of a dark red or dark brown mud makes them seem. Then all objects are covered with linseed oil and rubbed with a powder of aluminum and earning a matte silver color. And finally starting the painting step. The reason Ornament typical dishes are the flowers and berries. The ornament is distinguished by its striking polychrome design. The basic colors used are gold, black, red and more rarely, green. After being painted, the paint tools are covered three times and then put in an oven at a temperature of 120-130 degrees centigrade. The lacquer surface gives a golden glow and silver and wood turns into 'gold'.

Jojlomá tableware can be used in everyday life to eat and drink, so it's not just a work of folk art but a tool that has a practical application.

In the nineteenth century could find Jojlomá dishes anywhere in Russia and Persia, India, central Asia, USA. UU. and Australia. After the International Fair held in Paris in 1889, the export of handicraft works Jojlomá increased.

In 1916, the city of Semenov opened the School of Art in Wood Carving. In 1931 the graduates of this school created a small partnership that eventually became the factory 'paint Jojlomá. "

From the mid-60's and until today this factory is the largest producer of wooden craft works Jojlomá in respecting the old traditions of trade.

The sophisticated artistic imagination Jojlomá teachers, along with the high quality manufacturing of tools, makes these crafts to be sued by thousands of Russian citizens and foreign tourists in Russia and have a large market abroad.