My Sister gave me a Russian Lacquer box with two flying cranes on it. There is supposed to be a story behind the cranes, but I can't find it online. Does anyone know where I can find this, or happen to know what the story is?
Cranes are believed to bring good luck to people. So you are double lucky in this case; or perhaps even triple lucky since you have a thoughtful sister who have you such a lovely gift. Russian lacquer is magnificent. Nothing like it in the world.
Cranes represented vigilance and depending on the country to its' meaning. India: Treachery. Celtic: (some) ill omen. China: immortality. Africa: the gift of speech. It was also associated with regeneration and a resurrection symbol, in Greece it's cry announced spring and autumn harvests, and in Egypt it represented prosperity. So take your pick!!!
This is an old Russian tradition of painting cranes on laquered boxes like the icon paintings. Many different towns would make these type of boxes. Russian legend claims that the city was a home to icon-painters even before the Mongol invasions. At least since the 17th century, Kholui has been a producer of lacquer boxes, plates, and other painted items that this region of Russia is famous for. After the Bolshevik Revolution, icon painting became unpopular and even dangerous. However, Kholui painters kept painting, at this time in secrecy, giving the area a kind of legitimacy in the cultural/artistic world. The style of icon painting in Kholui is particular to this town, and distinctly different from the more widely-known Palekh style of painting. The icon-painters in Kholui use a large amount of green hues, as opposed to the style of using mostly red colors, as is traditional in Palekh. The Ivanovo Oblast is home to the cities of Putchezh and Kholui. It is found in the center of the Eastern European Plain, and is part of the Central Economic Area of Russia.
