Zhostovo painting is a Russian folk art craft of forged metal (tin) trays that has existed since 1825. At that time, the workshop of O. Vishnyakov was opened in the village of Zhostovo, Mytishchi District of the Moscow Region.
The basic theme of the painting is a simply composed flower bouquet, where large and small garden and field flowers, leaves, buds and stems are in harmonic entity. Painting is usually performed on a black background. The classic Zhostovo style suggests several floral compositions: Ashberry, Currant, A Solid Bouquet, A Loose Bouquet, A Flower Crown, A Branch Viewed from the Corner. Masters paint with oil paints diluted with line seed oil and turpentine, using squirrel brushes. Painting is done in two stages: the first stage is referred to as zamalyovka (priming) and the second one is named vypravka (smoothing). Each Zhostovo tray is hand-painted and has an author's signature.
The postage stamp shows products of the Zhostovo craft: a tray, a samovar and a tea glass; the margins provide elements of painting.
| Paper |
Printing method |
Format of the envelope |
| Envelope paper |
Offset |
114 × 162 mm |