Rostov Veliky from the XVIII century to the present day is the center of enamel art in Russia.
Artistic enamel in Russia is called the finift. There is no consensus about the origin of the word ''Finift''. Some scientists believe that it comes from the Greek "fingitis ', which means 'bright, shining stone', while others believe that it comes from the Byzantine word himipet, which in turn originates from the Greek verb meaning 'pour, melt'.
Currently, the term is used to refer to the Rostov craft and presents in the eponymous factory title: 'Rostov finift'.
The pioneer of art was the French jeweler Jean Touten. In 1632 he was first who discovered the secret of enamel paints and thereby expanded the usage range of artistic enamel. Enamel — is a glassy mass, which is painted in different colors, depending on the added metal oxides.
There is evidence of the existence in this period enamel workshop at the Rostov bishop's court and the individual craftsmen working by orders of monasteries and churches in the city. According to some sources the founder of enamel miniature painting was Metropolitan Arseny Motseevich. Filigree miniatures adorned the church utensils and vestments of the priests: mitres, chalices, the salaries of the Gospels, altar crosses.
Since 1770 in Rostov the workshops appeared, united of artisans by their specialties. Among other icon painters workshop was organized, which included the enamel masters. According to various sources there were known the enamel painters who lived and worked in Rostov in the second half XVIII — the first third of the XIX century.
Afte revolution in 1917 the hard times came, but many masters with their devotion to the finft could save this artcraft. United they again restored the cooperative, which after World War II reorganized in factory "Rostov enamel". This is the company upto this day carefully preserves the traditions of the first enamel masters.
Along with painted enamel factory made the cloisonne enamel, which decorated with filigree, gives to products the completeness and brightness. Experimenting with different enamel techniques, artists have the opportunity to play with colors and volumes. Meanwhile following the tradition, worked out by the masters of the past decades, contemporary artists continue to work successfully in a flower, landscape, historic, icon-painting, portrait and other genres.
About the Rostov enamel manufacturing technology we can tell only in general terms. Because this folk craft is the real ordinance thoroughly known only to experienced master. The whole process looks like this:
- Copper sheet is cut into the plates of the desired shape.
- Then the copper is knocked, making the future product convex.
- After that, the copper plate is covered with several layers of opaque white enamel. Preliminary enamel is mixed with water in certain strict proportions.
- After that, the reverse side of the plate is also coated with only one layer of enamel. Due to this the plate does not lose its shape.
- Then the product comes to oven. It is dried at a temperature of 700 to 800 degrees Celsius. Thanks to this procedure the enamel gets a smooth surface and gloss. The base is ready for drawing.
- There comes a time to cover the front part of the plate with refractory paint and then again send the plate to the drying. The paint must be choosen very precisely, because during the burning it will change the color. Besides all the colors have their own melting point, what also necessary to take into account. To create a multi-color image the process of painting and burning is repeated up to 7 times.
- The last step — put the plate in the jewelry frame.
From enamel make icons, portraits, jewelry, it is used to decorate objects for a variety of purposes. Noble saturated colors, thoughtful composition and unique individuality of handmade make enamel recognizable all over the world.
Rostov enamel brand known throughout the world and already 95 years the factory "Rostov enamel" retains the technology and tradition of this brilliant art.
