However, even as reproductions these lacquer miniatures distinguished themselves from the works that inspired them. The techniques used in their creation resulted in such depth and brilliant illumination that the finished works might as well have been original paintings. These artistic techniques include the use of a primed papier-mâché surface with a background of metal powder, over which several layers of thin oil paint are applied.

It all began with a lone traveller. During his travels in Europe 1795, Russian merchant Piotr Korobov stopped in the German town of Braunschweig. While he was there he visited the factory of the most famous of the European lacquered box manufacturers, Johann Heinrich Stobwasser. So attracted to these works of art was Korobov that he returned to his home town of Danilkovo, which later became Fedosinko, with a team of German carpenters and artists, determined to spread the artworks in Russia. Korobov set up a factory to produce the boxes, along with a school where Russian children were taught the technique from the Germans.

Although the art continued to grow, Korobov did not live to see his dream fully realized. It wasn't until after his death that his daughter's husband, Piotr Lukutin, took charge of the factory and continued to invest in the burgeoning art industry. Within a few years' time Fedoskino was as well known in European countries as it was in Russia.