An ancient inkstand consists of a carved wooden stand, a pencil holder and two items that cover the inkwells from drying out. They are decorated in the form of figures of a Kingfisher, i.e. a bird that stands out for its exotic plumage.
The presented ink set is made according to the model of Vasily Vornoskov. He was one of the most famous graduates of the Abramtsevo Carpentry and Carving Workshop. Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving school, or simply ‘Kudrinka’, originated at the turn of the 20th century in Abramtsevo, i.e. the estate of patron Savva Mamontov. In 1882, a workshop where carvers from the surrounding villages were trained in Kudrinka was opened there. Peasant Vasily Vornoskov studied there. According to one version, the new type of carving got its name from the Kudrino village where many carvers of the Abramtsevo Workshop came from. On the other version, this type of carving originated from the ‘curly’ (‘kudryaviy’) pattern, which has become its main feature.
Recognizable Vornoskov’s style was based on the gentle relief with rounded edges. Most often, the master depicted a lace ornament made of branches and leaves on objects. For carving, he used more than 20 different chisels. He cut out the shapes of animals and plants with deliberate roughness, thus deliberately leaving the mark of a knife or chisel unglazed. Special attention should be paid to processing of the background. By breaking the entire surface, Vornoskov reached the particular looseness. This style was called Vornoskov’s carving in honor of the master.
Vornoskov’s works were exhibited in Europe and won at international competitions. In Russia, the master became the first peasant whose works were presented at a personal exhibition. Vornoskov’s carving school allows for considering the inkstand as the remarkable phenomenon of Russian culture.
The first table ink sets consisted of a simple inkwell and quill pens. However, such writing materials were found only in the homes of high-ranking persons. In the period from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the quality of writing materials reflected the social status of a person. Only people of high rank could afford items made of silver and gold, such as seals, inkwells, and bells used to summon a servant to deliver a finished letter.
Over time, table ink sets were supplemented with many items, such as inkstands, pen glasses, a paper knife, paperweight, candlesticks, and a magnifying glass. Sometimes table ink sets even had various caskets, boxes, ashtrays, and miniature sculptures.
The presented ink set is made according to the model of Vasily Vornoskov. He was one of the most famous graduates of the Abramtsevo Carpentry and Carving Workshop. Abramtsevo-Kudrinskaya carving school, or simply ‘Kudrinka’, originated at the turn of the 20th century in Abramtsevo, i.e. the estate of patron Savva Mamontov. In 1882, a workshop where carvers from the surrounding villages were trained in Kudrinka was opened there. Peasant Vasily Vornoskov studied there. According to one version, the new type of carving got its name from the Kudrino village where many carvers of the Abramtsevo Workshop came from. On the other version, this type of carving originated from the ‘curly’ (‘kudryaviy’) pattern, which has become its main feature.
Recognizable Vornoskov’s style was based on the gentle relief with rounded edges. Most often, the master depicted a lace ornament made of branches and leaves on objects. For carving, he used more than 20 different chisels. He cut out the shapes of animals and plants with deliberate roughness, thus deliberately leaving the mark of a knife or chisel unglazed. Special attention should be paid to processing of the background. By breaking the entire surface, Vornoskov reached the particular looseness. This style was called Vornoskov’s carving in honor of the master.
Vornoskov’s works were exhibited in Europe and won at international competitions. In Russia, the master became the first peasant whose works were presented at a personal exhibition. Vornoskov’s carving school allows for considering the inkstand as the remarkable phenomenon of Russian culture.
The first table ink sets consisted of a simple inkwell and quill pens. However, such writing materials were found only in the homes of high-ranking persons. In the period from the 17th to the 19th centuries, the quality of writing materials reflected the social status of a person. Only people of high rank could afford items made of silver and gold, such as seals, inkwells, and bells used to summon a servant to deliver a finished letter.
Over time, table ink sets were supplemented with many items, such as inkstands, pen glasses, a paper knife, paperweight, candlesticks, and a magnifying glass. Sometimes table ink sets even had various caskets, boxes, ashtrays, and miniature sculptures.
