Boxes “Order of Lenin” and “Order
of the Red Banner of Labour”
Created in the Village of Mstyora, 1950 and 1954
Mstyora is a small settlement in central Russia known for its specific miniature lacquer
paintings. Two of the highest state awards of the USSR can be found in these two elegant
masterpieces of Mstyora art. “Order of Lenin” and “Order of the Red Banner of Labour”
were embodied in the famous “Yurin's ornament.” Neither before nor after the celebrated
painter YevgenyYurin were the Soviet orders represented so delicately and magnificently.
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The special and inimitable manner of the famous
Mstyora painter sophisticatedly manifests itself in
these boxes. Light ornaments, lacy figures of various
contours, weightless festoons with filigree spears form
the finest gold background for the Soviet orders. The
high value of the awards is emphasized by the luxurious
The Order of Lenin
and meticulous images.Yurin, who developed his unique
artistic style, did not stay aloof from experiments with
other subject-matters, but it was the perfect pattern
which remained the main character of his works.
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was established on
December 28, 1920. The Order of Lenin was established on
April 6, 1930.
Collection custodian:
“Yurin’s mysterious language of patterns, all those fanciful weaves
of swirls, circles, grass blades, incisions and flowers cannot be
copied. His craftsmanship was highly appreciated by contemporaries
who named his art as ‘music for the eyes.’ There are other works
by Yevgeny Yurin in our collection.”
reference
Yevgeny Yurin, a hereditary icon painter, graduated from Mstyora
icon-painting school, where he mastered age-old traditions of the
Holy images limning, far in the Tsarist-era. With the advent of the Soviet
system, he, along with other Mstyora painters, transferred his vigorous talent
into the miniature lacquer painting. Following the new trends,the artist
became a co-founder of the “proletarian art” guild. In addition to caskets and
little boxes he designed theatre settings and costumes, illustrated
books and dressed shop-windows. However, the perfect texture of his tracery
and his ornaments spoke the immemorial holy language and that is
why he was called an icon-painter for the rest of his life.