A discussion on popular cultural icons is never complete with Russia's contribution to the world of art and architecture. Nesting dolls, lacquer boxes, Faberge eggs, Khokhloma's...the list is endless. Here's a list of popular icons of the Russian culture.
- Orenburg Shawls: Russian artisans who've almost spent their entire lifetime learning the art of making fine hand knitted shawls have contributed to the popularity of the Orenburg shawl. As with everything Russian, this art too has a story behind it. This art finds it roots in the 18th century when wives of Russian military men stationed in the region started knitting shawls using the goat down thread given to them by the nomadic women in the Orenburg region.
The shawl is hand knitted using the down hair of the indigenous Orenburg goat and silk. In fact, shawls made using the traditional technique are so fine, that they can pass through a ring. Everything about these shawls is authentic, right from the Orenburg goat to the spindles that are hand carved.
- Samovars: Much like the Vodka, tea drinking is a part of the Russian ethos. In fact, tea drinking is an elaborate ceremony here, with the water being boiled in special metal kettles called Samovars. These large urn-shaped kettles were essential to every household. The Samovar has a metal pipe that runs vertically right into the middle of the urn. Before tea is made, this pipe is filled with fuel and set on fire. A teapot is fit on the urn to brew the tea.
Tea drinking as a tradition was introduced to Russia in the 17th century. When this tradition permeated to the middle class, tea drinking was an open air tradition. But the tea has to be protected from the cold Russian climate. Thus, the Tibetan practice of using Samovars was borrowed.
Today, intricate metal Samovars are a collector's item, with the exquisite ones being sold for hundreds and thousands of dollars. If the rare and antique ones are beyond your reach, you can buy the ones commonly available for as less as hundred dollars.
- Russian Porcelain or Gzhel: Gzhel porcelain derives its name from a village of the same name. This place is situated sixty kilometers from Moscow. Gzhel is known for its deposit of kaolin or white porcelain clay. This clay is suitable for the making of porcelain. Long before the place became famous for its white and blue crockery, the place was inhabited by peasants who chalked a living making roof tiles and household crockery. Things however changed with the introduction of majolicas or the art of making tin-glazed earthenware.
Today Russian porcelain or Gzhel porcelain is popular throughout the world, with people making everything from exquisite tableware to crockery, dolls, and vases.
- Orenburg Shawls: Russian artisans who've almost spent their entire lifetime learning the art of making fine hand knitted shawls have contributed to the popularity of the Orenburg shawl. As with everything Russian, this art too has a story behind it. This art finds it roots in the 18th century when wives of Russian military men stationed in the region started knitting shawls using the goat down thread given to them by the nomadic women in the Orenburg region.
The shawl is hand knitted using the down hair of the indigenous Orenburg goat and silk. In fact, shawls made using the traditional technique are so fine, that they can pass through a ring. Everything about these shawls is authentic, right from the Orenburg goat to the spindles that are hand carved.
- Samovars: Much like the Vodka, tea drinking is a part of the Russian ethos. In fact, tea drinking is an elaborate ceremony here, with the water being boiled in special metal kettles called Samovars. These large urn-shaped kettles were essential to every household. The Samovar has a metal pipe that runs vertically right into the middle of the urn. Before tea is made, this pipe is filled with fuel and set on fire. A teapot is fit on the urn to brew the tea.
Tea drinking as a tradition was introduced to Russia in the 17th century. When this tradition permeated to the middle class, tea drinking was an open air tradition. But the tea has to be protected from the cold Russian climate. Thus, the Tibetan practice of using Samovars was borrowed.
Today, intricate metal Samovars are a collector's item, with the exquisite ones being sold for hundreds and thousands of dollars. If the rare and antique ones are beyond your reach, you can buy the ones commonly available for as less as hundred dollars.
- Russian Porcelain or Gzhel: Gzhel porcelain derives its name from a village of the same name. This place is situated sixty kilometers from Moscow. Gzhel is known for its deposit of kaolin or white porcelain clay. This clay is suitable for the making of porcelain. Long before the place became famous for its white and blue crockery, the place was inhabited by peasants who chalked a living making roof tiles and household crockery. Things however changed with the introduction of majolicas or the art of making tin-glazed earthenware.
Today Russian porcelain or Gzhel porcelain is popular throughout the world, with people making everything from exquisite tableware to crockery, dolls, and vases.
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