Russian traditional folk art always turns around the same familiar themes, easily recognisable heroes and characters. Marked by great vivacity, boldness and zest these themes cross many mediums; wood, textiles, lace, metal work, ceramics…..

The Fire-bird features often in Russian fairy tales and myths:

‘……About halfway through the night he thought he saw a light in the orchard. It grew brighter and brighter, until all the trees were lit up. Then he saw that the light was coming from a Firebird, which was sitting on the apple-tree and pecking at the golden apples.
    So he crept up very quietly to the tree and caught hold of the bird by the tail. But the Firebird spread its wings and flew away, leaving only one tail feather in Prince Ivan's hand…..’

Certainly there are echoes of the “Phoenix” from other world cultures. In the Slavic cultures this bird was always described as a red bird with gold plumage. In Christianity, the Phoenix is often a messenger of the gods (a witness of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of forbidden fruit!) But the firebird has even older roots than Christianity; it was connected with the cult of the sun and the revival of new life.

Beautiful feathers from its tail were sought, and many heroes wanted to catch it as a symbolism of one’s wish to fulfil one’s desires. The Slavic Firebird finishes it’s life in the autumn, and is revived again in the spring to make people happy with it’s singing and beauty. Sometimes Slavs imagine the Firebird not as a flaming peacock but as a falcon, a symbol and epitome of masculinity, strength, valour and courage. A warrior of justice from the skies, an angel.

Khokhloma – the firebird motif

Rural folk painting from ginger bread boards to wooden and ceramic toys, khokhloma motifs recall  lush grassy ornaments in cinnabar in the ancient sacred manuscripts of painted or beaten icon frames representing scenes from Saints’ Lives with their golden curled leaves weaving against the scarlet or black background.

RED
GOLD           
BLACK                                  

These are profound symbolisms for decorating sacred church vessels and the dishes and cups used in monasteries and nunneries as well as icon ornaments, and they stand for:

Red = Beauty
Gold = Spiritual Heavenly Light
Black = Gracious Grief Cleansing the Human Soul

17th and 18th century Khokhloma starts to produce art after devastation of the Mongolian Invasion, thereby the East and West are forever entangled.