Harlequin * Phoenix

Description:

"Harlequin" is the eternal prankster. He comes impishly to life in bright colours on this fountain pen in the iconographic style by Yekaterina Shchanitsyna created with tempera on goldleaf and lacquer.

The technique of lacquer art in fact originated in China and Japan! Thanks to the many voyages of discovery that were undertaken, Chinese and Oriental lacquer arts were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Already in the 18th century, beautifully lacquered snuffboxes were manufactured in France, England and Germany. One of the biggest producers at that time was Johann Stobwasser's factory in Braunschweig, Germany.

The Palekh school is known for its use of tempera, goldleaf and lacquer. Tempera is a painting medium based on egg yolk. It dries fast and leaves little scope for colour gradations. Tempera is not the medium for realistic paintings but rather for fairytale scenes inspired by myths and legends with detailed compositions or thought-provoking images.

Click here and learn more about the history of Russian Lacquer Art!