SKOPINSKAYA CERAMICS
 A
town of Skopin is the centre of folk arts of Ryazan' Region.
Even in the old times of Kiev Rus', or Ancient Russia, these
localities - where a town of Skopin later appeared - were
famous for earthenware made out of local light-baked clays.
Contemporary handicraftsmen apply different techniques -
pottery, hand-made modelling, plaster-cast moulding with manual
finishing, semi-dry pressing.
Subjects of painted decor are noted by originality. Along
with realistic depictions of birds, animals and human beings,
personages of fantastic fairy-tales and narrative poems and
ballads are often represented there.
Dragons and lions, bears and polkans (russian folk interpretation
of a mythologic centaurs, folk and fairy-tale birds (Siren
and Alconost) are among the most favorite images. Ornaments,
mostly geometric, are engraved on a raw clay surface by all
kind of sticks, stamps, gears.
Craftsmen's great skills, talent, vivid fantasy and virtuosity
breathed a new life into an age-old russian tradition; inimitable
folk colourism of unique Skopin ceramics is still alive. The
enterprise manufactures decorative kvass-jugs and wine-jugs,
vessels, candlesticks, vases, tea-pots and mugs, butterdishes,
napkin-holders, ash-trays, pencil glasses, decorative tiles
for fireplaces, etc. The company «Skopinskaya Khudozhestvennaya
Keramika» constantly takes part in district, regional, city
and international exhibitions.
Production of Skopin enterprise was exhibited in Montreal,
Paris, Berlin and other countries. Skopin articles are represented
in the collections of more than 30 museums in Russia and all
over the world.
"PERESLAVSKAYA" CERAMIC FACTORY
 A
great number of diverse ceramic articles was produced in Russia
since old times: jugs and dishes, pots and milk pots, different
domestic utensils - milk sets, pancake sets, kvass sets, other
complete sets for wine, meat dumplings, kvass, soup, tea,
other dishes and portion dishes pots. Tableware shapes are
always of great plasticity and simplicity, and always they
are a result of its utilitarian functions.
An ancient town of Pereslavl'-Zalessky, which is located
in Yaroslavl' Region and which is included into the glorious
Golden Ring of Russia, is also notable for its handicraft
earthenware. Only ecologically pure components are used for
its production - red clays, sand and water. These articles
are manufactured either on the potter's wheel, or by other
methods: by moulding in a plaster cast, or by shaping according
to a sample (in semi-automatic rate). Handicraft articles,
executed on the potter's wheel, are of great popularity. These
articles are heat-proof and water-resistant
Decorative painting is executed by master's hand; floral
motives are predominant there, glazing completes the process
of decoration. Earthenware production of «Pereslavskaya Keramika»
manufactory is widely known in many regions of Russia. Citizens
of Yaroslavl' and Moscow, Vladimir and Ivanovo, Tula, Ryazan'
and other regions of the Russian Federation use these articles
in their everyday life.
These articles are widely spread in use among citizens of
Yakutia, Khabarovsk Region and Komi Republic as well.
"OYATSKAYA" CERAMIC FACTORY
 History
of ceramic folk craft on the banks of Oyat' river developed
since the 18th century. Contemporary folk craft centre is
founded on the basis of pottery-yard of Alekhovshchina Village
which is located in Lodeynopol'sky District of Leningrad Region.
Nowadays, ceramic handicraft enterprise carries on ancient
traditions of folk pottery and develops them.
The enterprise manufactures utensils and other popular articles,
which are formed by a turn of potter's wheel. Ceramic jugs,
bowls and wash-hand stands, kettles and grills, salad-dishes
and decorative vases, tea- and coffee-sets made of ecologically
pure local clays are usually decorated with engobe painting
and glazing.
Another trend of Oyat creative activities is manufacture
of clay toys; in the last years these toys look different
to what one could see before - before they were simple peasant
s single-figure toys with a whistle, now they are many-figure
compositions on subjects of Russian folk-lore. These handicraft
articles are represented in the collections of the principal
museums of Russia They are always of stable buyers' demand.
|
