The amber
The Russians call it "seabird tears". This curious mineral, whose hues range from reddish brown to honey, is in fact a fossilized tree resin. Forty million years ago, central and northern Europe were covered with pine and spruce forests. 10 million years later, they were swallowed up by water. The colour of a piece depends on the type of resin, the time of fossilization and the time spent in the open air. No false joy: cheap amber is over. At least, if you're looking for beautiful, well-worked pieces. The most beautiful inclusions of insects, feathers or pollen can be found in jewellery shops. Souvenir shops and hawkers sometimes deceive the customer. If you have any doubts about the composition of the pebble offered, put a needle through the fire. White mark and smell of pine resin, it's good. Black mark and smell of plastic, go on your way. If you don't have a needle, rub the stone against wool. If you get an electrostatic effect, it's most likely amber.
The matryoshka
The great classic souvenir, tied with the plastic Eiffel Tower and the "I love NY" t-shirt. Russian dolls, with political, folklore, sports or musical tendencies (you can find matriochki Elvis Presley, François Hollande or Karim Benzema!), are often expensive when sold in tourist areas. This object became popular late, at the end of the 19th century. It is likely that its diffusion was due to its use for educational purposes. Indeed, the matriochki originally represent a family. They are also the symbol of motherhood and fertility, and these toys were used to instil in little girls a taste for family and procreation. As a keepsake, the matriochka can also be finely painted and consist of a few dozen pieces. Some series evoke Russian history and stories in great detail. But whether they are peasants in scarves or oriental princesses, Russian dolls remain a great classic of the "gift of Russia", alongside vodka and caviar.
The khokhloma
The khokhloma is the star of Russian tableware: you will notice it everywhere you go, whether in restaurants or private homes. They are crockery items made of wood (usually spoons, pots and bowls) and lacquered with red and gold floral motifs on a black background. Khokhloma originated in the Nizhny Novgorod region, where persecuted old believers who had taken refuge in the woods first taught the local peasants painting techniques derived from icon painting. The latter then transferred them to the rudimentary handicrafts they were already making. With its rough contours and delicately decorated surface, the khokhloma is an absolutely cardinal aesthetic symbol in Russia. In fact, the official logo of the 2018 World Cup was a modern trophy made of khokhloma.
Lacquered boxes
The success of these lacquers came with the revolution of 1917. Painting icons, either to perpetuate a Byzantine tradition or to practice a religious act, is strictly forbidden. As before the Old Believers with the khokhloma, the icon painters, devoid of activity, will thus continue to express themselves on boxes and will adapt to the Russian culture the distant oriental lacquers. There are four schools, each with their own rules of style: Palekh (the best known), Fedoskino, Holoui and Mstera. Even today, talented miniaturists perpetuate this ancient religious art... saved by a secular and decorative art!
The shawls
The colourful and flowery shawls of the babushka may look a little kitsch, but they have the great advantage of being very warm. Whether worn on the head or placed on the shoulders, the shawl is an integral part of the Russian woman's panoply. In bright and flowery or dark and geometric tones, Russian shawls are cut in a very tight and supple woollen fabric. In ancient Russia, these colourful squares of fabric had a meaning. Offering a shawl to a young woman was no more and no less than asking her to marry you.
Objects made of birch wood
Birch is the Russian tree par excellence. It has been used since the dawn of time, especially as a support for writing (the bark rolls easily), and is widely used in crafts: boxes, toys, chess games or birds of happiness. The latter unfurl a fan-shaped tail, cut from a single piece, moistened and shaped by hand. They occupied the hands of the peasants during the long winter evenings. They are often found covered with khokhloma.
The porcelain of Gjel
The villagers of the Gjel region in the south of Moscow have been producing ceramic objects since at least the 15th century. Their blue patterns on a white background are recognizable among a thousand: less delicate and geometric than those of Chinese porcelain, they generally do not occupy the entire surface of the object and are figurative. In Gjel porcelain, one generally finds trinkets and crockery, especially tea sets. Most often, a large floral piece occupies the domed part of the teapot, while the contours, handles and lids are underlined by blue borders (or, in the more peasant versions, painted plain blue).
Brocante objects
Whether in the upper part of the market of Ismailovo or on Sundays in the parks of the big cities, Russia abounds in flea markets that will delight lovers of history (especially military history). You can find everything: vintage pins, military medals, Soviet memorabilia, etc... Often, a few private individuals set up wild stands and empty their attics: it's an opportunity to rebuild a chic Soviet-style wardrobe, or to find old books and especially, for connoisseurs, vinyl records. Because in all the second-hand shops in Russia, you can find rock productions from the time of perestroika which have become more than cult: Kino, DDT, Akvarium among others. In the much more respectable antique shops in the city centres, one can find superb icons. However, be careful when passing through customs, it is necessary to find out about the origin of the product and the import rules before buying any valuable item.
To drink... and to eat
Would you like to prolong the atmosphere of your stay a little bit, once you get home? Nothing could be simpler, all you have to do is pack a few Russian specialities in your suitcase. In alcohol, vodka is of course unavoidable. But beware, if you live in the European Union, the maximum limit of strong alcohol (over 22°) that can be imported is set at 1 litre. Fortunately, the 0.5 litre format is very widespread in Russia, giving you the opportunity to vary your drinking pleasure. But your choice could also be an excellent Armenian cognac (Ararat brand) or a nastoïka
, this macerated liqueur with aromatic herbs typical of the Russian North-West and which is sometimes called "medicinal vodka".For food, it's a little more complicated since wild Caspian sturgeon caviar is officially no longer produced. There is still farmed caviar, of course, but its prices in Russia are now close to those of French caviar. However, it is possible to bring back up to 125 g, as long as the receipt is kept. At much more reasonable prices, "red caviar", salmon or trout caviar, is still available. It is coarser than black caviar, but equally appreciated by Russians, and more original.
Finally, we can also please the sweet tooth by bringing back from Russia konfeti, these sweets wrapped in multicoloured paper that can be found on every table at tea time.
