Salvers

Zhostovo Painting. This type of tin tray painting originates in the village of Zhostovo near Moscow. First appearing in the first half of the 19th century, this style draws on the bouquet motif with large garden and smaller field flowers scattered along a dark background. The artists used oil paint diluted with linseed oil, and squirrel fur brushes of different sizes. Bright Zhostovo trays come in a variety of shapes: round, oval, rectangular, and octagonal. Some of them are used for household purposes, like a samovar stand or a food dish. Others are decorative items.