The birch bark is collected only during a brief interval in June and from trees that have been marked for logging. Birch bark as a medium has properties in between paper and wood. Like paper, the bark can be made into sheets, printed or bent into flexible shapes. But like wood, the bark is durable, waterproof and can be carved. The boxes are still hand carved using a variety of special tools. A finished piece is coated with a thin layer of paraffin wax. The boxes are made in turn-of the century style workshops.   

For many thousands of years, the birch tree held a central place in the Russian psychos. The birch tree certainly dominates the Russian and Siberian countryside with it's white bark and delicate leaves. Tributes to the birch tree are found in Russian songs, art, poems and folk tales. In Russian folk wisdom, it was believed that touching a birch tree restored the emotions and helped reduce stress. Parents made from birch bark special talismans for their children, called igrushki-oberegi, to ward against evil spirits. Russians and other Central Asian peoples used birch bark for everyday utensils and waterproof containers. Slowly, the craft turned from purely utilitarian to become more decorative. Only recently, starting with the reforms of Gorbachev, have the birch bark artists been free to develop new styles. The boxes that you see are a mixture of old and new traditions, with new artistic freedoms.

Craftsmanship Collection Triangle Birch Bark Box