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Lacquer ware originated in China over two thousand years ago. It was brought to Europe in the 16th century. Over the next two hundred years artisans in England, France, Germany, and Holland adopted this art form to create western style miniatures.

Kyiv (Kyivskiy) painting – miniature lacquer painting developed in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, is based on traditional Ukrainian folk ‘Petrykivka’ paintings. This technique is a variation of Russian Palekh miniatures, and begins by coating a small wooden object with black paint. An intricate scene is then painted over the black background. Once this dries, several coats of varnish – lacquer – are applied, until the object has a perfect glossy finish.

Professional artists create all sorts of decorative objects, but most notably elegant lacquer boxes, plates, painted wooden eggs, candleholders, and magnets that are matchless in their quality. The most popular Ukrainian folk styles are painted floral patterns, landscapes, and incrusted straw designs. The complexity of the design depends upon the size of the object, and the skills and artistic intentions of the artist.