Skopin Ceramics

Skopin Ceramics 

ceramic objects—primarily jugs, candlesticks, and small decorative sculptures—produced in the city of Skopin in Riazan’ Oblast. The production of Skopin ceramics was begun in the 1860’s by the peasant Ovodov brothers; the pottery craft virtually died out during World War I (1914–18).

Each individual part of a Skopin ceramic was formed on a hand-driven wheel; the parts were then joined together with wet clay and decorated with raised and stamped ornamentation and with brown, green, or gray glazes. Intricate silhouettes characterize those vessels made in the form of human or fairytale figures.

In 1934 the production of Skopin ceramics was revived at the Skopin Factory of Artistic Objects. Outstanding contemporary masters who have preserved the traditions of Skopin ceramics include I.I. Maksimov, M. M. Pelenkin, and M. I. Tashcheev.

REFERENCE

Russkaia narodnaia keramika. [Album. Compiled and with an introduction by A. B. Saltykov. Moscow, 1960.] [23–1536–]