 Birch-bark is a unique natural material. From time immemorial in ancient Russia it was used for manufacturing of various household subjects, such as dug-outs, boxes, caskets, baskets for salt, groats, flour, grains, berries, cedar nuts.
In specially made boxes there were liquids: milk, sour cream, cedar oil, adipose, honey, salted fish and many other things. All these products could be kept for infinitely long time, because birch-bark is bactericidal. For example air in birch wood is more sterile, than in operating-room. Bags, clothes, footwear were made of specially proce ssed birch-bark, which was not worse than leather goods.
Birch is believed to be a warm tree. Even in a cold room it is handwarm, because is has positive power. It is enough to look at it, to hold it in your hands - and it will take your troubles away. One can hear women talk that birch-bark relieves you of your weariness, and normalizes blood pressure if you spend much time working at the computer. Goods made of birch-bark are ecologically clean, as they are made of natural m aterials by hand. Almost each thing is unique.
Decorative processing of wood in Russia was known in the 9th and 10th centuries. In Russia, rich in woods, everybody liked tree and many generations of foremen used it. Surprising properties of birch-bark were considered irreplaceable in the life of peasants. Birch-bark was used for manufacturing of utensils. Birch-bark boxes were made for milk, sour cream, fish and meat. This material is famous for its solid, flexible, rot-proof characteristics.
Many Russian provinces manufactured birch-bark products. In the 18th century already cut birch-bark was used as an ornament.
Birch-bark is stored in May and June because it is the time when it has all nutriments. Then it is elastic, easily peeled off tree trunk, if you stamp it there appears a deep figure with soft edges.
Foremen make different sets from birch-bark (beer mugs, mugs for kvass and other drinks, trays, kvass-pots) using carving and stamping, in combination with each other they make things harmonious. Craftsmen skilfully modifying patterns make each subject unique.
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