Russian Finds at the Thrift Store

At a small thrift shop over the weekend I discovered a small Russian Khokhloma lacquer  (Хохломская роспись) spoon for sale. It was a great find. I am curious to know more about it's exact origins. As you can see in the photo, there is a small paper description wrapped around the handle. I cannot transcribe it exactly because the paper wraps around itself, obscuring some of the lettering.

The spoon rests on an American traditional quilt made by my grandmother in the 1970s. It is interesting to see the two styles contrasted against one another.

The Matryoshka, or "Russian Doll"

On May 24 [2010], a rare Matryoshka doll display will open in Moscow’s AFIMALL City shopping center. Each of the six- to 13-meter-tall installations, which were displayed during the 2010 Russian National Exhibition in Paris, is shaped like a Matryoshka, the famous nesting doll that has come to symbolize Russian culture. [...]

Each Matryoshka design uses regional traditions such as those from Khokhloma, Gorodets and Mezen for painting on wood.

To see additional photos from the exhibition, please visit the website of RIA Novosti here.