Casket "Fish Stories" is relatively large. Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving is an artistic craft of wood carving, formed at the end of the 19th century in the vicinity of the Abramtsevo estate near Moscow. Comes from a private collection.

Size is 4.7 cm high (app. 1,8 inches), 14 cm diameter (5.5 in). 

Very Good condition, wear. Please study good resolution images for cosmetic condition. In person actual item may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight measure some 1 kg packed for shipment.

The emergence of the craft is closely associated with the artists of the Abramtsevo circle and, first of all, E. D. Polenova, who organized in the estate of S. I. Mamontov in 1882 a carpentry workshop, in which carvers from the neighboring villages studied and worked: Khotkovo, Akhtyrka, Kudrino, Whorls. When organizing the workshop, special attention was paid to educational activities, creating and maintaining a creative mood among students. In addition to teaching the skills of carving, drawing and the basics of painting were taught in the workshop. Classes were held in the Abramtsevo Museum: a large collection of folk art items was collected in the estate. The workshop graduates received as a gift tools to organize their business. In 1890, one of the students, V. P. Vornoskov, founded his own production in his native village of Kudrin and began to work on the orders of the Abramtsevo workshop. This initially small workshop formed the basis of the future craft. In the Kudrino workshop, a special style of ornamental carving was formed, successful combinations of flat-relief carving with geometric carving were found, the principles of organic use of carved decor in utilitarian objects were laid. In the first years of work, professional artists - V. I. Sokolov, S. V. Malyutin, employees of the Handicraft Museum - provided great assistance in the formation of a special "Vornoskov" style. The products of Vornoskov and his followers - ladles, boxes, barrels, salt shakers, decorative dishes and vases covered with rhythmic floral ornaments - are distinguished by a variety of toning that emphasizes the natural beauty of the tree. The plant ornament is based not only on samples of carved peasant products and house decor, but also on ornamental headpieces of old printed books. The development of the ornament of the Kudrino craftsmen went from the combination of individual elements - twigs, curls, rosettes - to integral ornamental compositions covering the entire product. In 1922, the Vozrozhdenie artel was organized in Kudrin, which began to develop rapidly; in the mid-1930s, more than 120 people already worked there. The artel's products were in great demand and were repeatedly awarded with diplomas of Russian and international exhibitions. In 1936, a unique order was completed: the design of one of the entrances to the exhibition of folk art in the Tretyakov Gallery. This is the only work of Kudrintsy in the field of monumental art. For the International Exhibition in Paris in 1937, the Kudrintsy prepared an extensive collection, for which many of V. P. Vornoskov's early pieces were repeated. In subsequent years, craftsmen and artists of different generations developed the craft - V. V. Vornoskov, M. V. Artemiev, A. I. Gulyaeva, Z. N. Borodulina, T. V. Alkhimovich, L. V. Barkan, N. N. . and G. I. Simankin. Currently, the center of the craft is located in the town of Khotkovo, Sergiev Posad region, where a factory of carved art products operates. Abramtsevo-Kudrinsky carving masters are trained by the Vasnetsov Abramtsevo Art and Industry College.