hokhloma is the name of a big village in former Semenovsky district on the left bank of the Volga river. Craftsmen from nearby villages brought there their handicraft wares to sell. Merchants bought up the attractive goods to sell them at fairs in other Russian towns and abroad. Thus this territory is rich in history and original culture.
	Khokhloma painting amazes you with its delicate grass pattern and festive coloring, which is based on combination of scarlet cinnabar and flittering gold against the black lacquer background. This is Khokhloma specific feature. Masters used tin powder and lacquer to obtain such gold color. Now they use aluminum powder. At that time Khokhloma production was not large scale. It was because of expensive imported tin. In 1720s after the end of the North War tin flow to Russian increased. The price went down and the material came within reach of many masters. The production and the sales of brightly painted wood tableware expanded.    The 17th and 18th centuries proved that the beauty of Khokhloma wood-ware was highly valued. In the 20s and 30s of the 19th century Khokhloma craftsmen made some innovations. They started to gild not only parts but the whole surface and covered their bowls and cups with intricate grass painting. These improvements brought big success of this folk craft. The articles were acclaimed at many shows and exhibitions. In 1931 "Export" cartel was organized in Semyonov which later became joint-stock company "Khokhlomskaya Rospis".
Brussels and London, Osaka and Moscow, Montreal and Leipzig, Pyongyang and Paris and many other cities awarded Khokhloma articles with medals and diplomas of international significance. Now about 1500 artists work at Khokhlomskaya Rospis to create an unforgettable beauty of traditional Russian wooden souvenirs. In the range of their products there are also many different Matryoshka dolls.    Articles with Khokhloma ornamentation combine a range of valuable utilitarian properties (they are resistant to hot temperature and food acids) and add a fine touch to the wooden interior. There are few things that can equally serve a stable appointments and interior decor. Yet such is the Golden Khokhloma! A piece of beauty, always and everywhere!