When visiting Ukraine, tourists always tend to buy something remarkable in order to retain their impressions and memories. Buying souvenirs is a perfect way to accomplish this. Either keeping souvenirs at home or presenting them to your friends in order to share your impressions with them helps to preserve your memories about the country you visited. Ukraine is no exception.
Ukraine is rich in traditional crafts and souvenir making. National crafting is so various and numerous that it’s impossible to describe it in several words. Today the focus must therefore be on one of the most widely-distributed art of crafting as wood-craft.
An applied line of woodcraft development provided people to earn a living. Traditionally woodcraft art is widespread used in western part of country, but other regions can also demonstrate the high level of this ancient craft. If you interested in buying wooden masterpieces directly from craftsmen in Ukraine, you should go for shopping to various souvenir markets in area you are going to visit. Famous Andriyvsky Uzviz in Kyiv, Ploshcha Rynok, Vernisazh Souvenir Market or the Gallery of Ravlyk in Lviv, Kosiv handcraft market are a perfect choice to hunt for souvenirs. Also, various art galleries usually offer a lot of handmade items. Wide range of handmade wood gifts and souvenirs produce by Ukrainian craftsmen is really breathtaking and astonishing. All of products are handmade.
Well, what kinds of wood souvenirs can you buy in Ukraine? First of all, there is a wide choice of decorative dishes, among them plates, plaques, spoons, chopping boards and candlesticks. They are decorated in floral national motives, in Petrykivka Style of Painting. This style is part of what is usually called “primitive folk art”, in red, yellow and blue predominant colors. The Petrykivka Style of Painting is considered to be a remarkable artistic phenomenon of Ukrainian culture.
The wood carving is also very popular part of wood craft in Ukraine. It is especially popular in Carpathian Mountains. Numerous sculptures are made from juniper tree, beech tree, linden, conifers wood and carved using only hand tools. You can buy such souvenirs as wooden sculptures in national style, the lacquered boxes, the wooden combs, wood carved jewelry (beads and prayer beads, ear-rings and bracelets) and even exclusive gifts. Most of beautiful Ukrainian ladies are excited to use and wear these astonishing things.