Beautiful handmade Russian lacquerware broach with a handpainted white cat against a dark blue background.

Russian lacquerware dates back to Peter the Great and the early 1700s.  The painting in traditional styles on an extremely durable papier-mache or wood base, then applying multiple layers of lacquer to give each piece that special sheen.

Over the centuries Russian artisans have perfected a variety of genres for which they've become world renowned.