Enamel-painted miniatures

Russian miniature on enamel (finift) is one of the most interesting and impressive kind of miniature painting. It appeared in Russia at the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries and was widespread. The miniature on enamel is difficult, labour-taking and requires a good eye, sure arm and perfect craftsmanship in burning. Brightness, sonority, long life of the works, limpidity of the colours, which are unreceptive to light, air and time effect and keep their original lustre and fresh look for years, feature the miniature. As early as in the first quarter of the 18th century the miniature became collectible.

In the first half of the 17th century the Russian painters on enamel began to use decorative painting by enamels on the enamel-coated background of the objects of applied art. The miniature pictures, mainly religious compositions, embellished things used in church –cups, chalices, panagias, frameworks for icons and books. In the 18th century such pictures were used for the decoration of objects of everyday use - cups, mugs, jewel-cases, blotters, even services and vases, and of course for jewellery: items – watches, snuff-boxes, bracelets, rings.

Carl Faberge, jeweller of the Imperial Court, also used the miniature on enamel in his works. Those were Easter’s Eggs of 1914 decorated with fine miniatures on the transparent enamel and portraits of reigning persons. Miniatures for ladles and boxes were copied from the genuine works by the masters of that time: Vasnetsov and Kustodiev.