Finift Enamel Brooch

Product Description

Finift Brooch. The compliments will flow when you wear this rectangular "finift" enamel brooch. Detailed painting of delicate blue/violet flowers surrounded by azure and green leaves and burgundy stems and tendrils. The setting is mounted into an elaborate hand made filigree frame decorated with tiny silvered pearl-like seeds. A real "pride of the workshop" piece. Has a pinback for easy attachment. Yaroslavl region. 1980's. 1⅞"x1⅛". Gift boxed. 1 only.

Painting on enamel appeared in Rostov Veliky (125 miles northwest of Moscow) in the 18th century. The Veliky (i.e., The Great) appended to the town is to distinguish it from Rostov-on-the-Don, which is about 500 miles south of Moscow, and to indicate that it's the older of the two towns. First mentioned in 862 in the Primary Chronicle, and two centuries later joined by Rurik to his Kingdom, it became the seat of the Church.

In the early 20th century, local artisans began creating miniatures on enamel with colorful floral patterns and put into filigree settings and frames. Finift (финифть) painting has many layers and each layer is fired. "Finift" originally came from the Greek "Fingitis", indicating a white or shining stone, and later became "Finift".