Khokhloma (хохлома) painting is a traditional Russian wood painting style and national ornament. Khokhloma is widely known for its lavish flower patterns with red and gold colours on a black background. These golden wood dishes, furniture, and utensils are some of the most desirable souvenirs on any tourist’s list.
Khokhloma painting art is named after a small village in the Nizhni Novgorod region.
Colourful light durable Khokhloma dishes are carved out of wood, then primed with clay mortar in order to close the wood pores, then several coats of boiled raw linseed oil are applied, tin powder and finally the dishes are dried in the oven. Wooden dishes existed in Russia for a long time; however, the metallic looking technique coated with oil is quite unique and most likely originated in the Christian Orthodox church with icon painting and manuscript tradition of the Old Believers in 17th century.
Originally, silver chloride was used for the background. The trick of the golden surface is in the linseed oil layer which in high temperature turns silver into gold. Later peasant artists replaced silver with tin.
The Khokhloma art of calligraphy is based on a wide variety of brushstrokes. This botanical pattern is poetic, full of interwoven grass, berries and flowers.
Khokhloma art inspired a variety of designers and artists around the world. For instance, a couple of years ago Austrian jewelry brand FREYWILLE presented their collection “Passionate Russia.” You will recognize Khokhloma elements as a part of their designs.
Russian fashion designer Denis Simachev created his own Khokhloma pattern clothing collection and also a Khokhloma fridge and cellphone.
The official web-site of the registered trademark of Khokhloma painting is goldenhohloma.com (In Russian).
Khokhloma Museum is located in Semenovo, in Nizhni Novgorod region.
Video 1 is about the history of Khokhloma (in English).
Video 2 is about the history of Khokhloma (in Russian).