Lacquer Boxes
1980? Russian lacquer box from the village of Palekh illustrating five different stories by Ivan Krylov. Paper mache, gold ink, handmade and handpainted, signed by the artist. 4½" x 4½" x 3½". Excellent condition. $76 from Yury Korchinsky, Reseda, CA, through Ebay, August, '99.
This black box is octagonal, with each of the square's edges turned into a very short side. The colors are lovely. Each of the images has a gold-ink background, and each of the short sides a gold-ink branch pattern. The inside is painted a simple bright red. The five fables--each labelled in Russian with a title--are, if one faces the box, "Trishkin's Kaftan" (top), "Demianov's Fish Soup" (front), "The Cat and the Cook" (right), "The Peasant and the Bear" (back), and "The Wolf in the Kennel" (left). I presume that this is a one-of-a-kind item. It is simply exquisite!
The images are arranged here as they are on the box. Click on an individual image to see it upright and in larger format.
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1990? Russian lacquer box, signed by Fedoskino artist Zaitseva. 3" x 2½" x 1½" high. The scene depicted on the cover is FC. $23 from Nickolai, St. Petersburg, Russia, through Ebay, May, '01.
This is as detailed a presentation of the specifics of the FC scene as I have witnessed. The bodies of both fox and crow are directed to the other. I have long waited to see fable scenes presented on Russian lacquer boxes, and here my hope is fulfilled.
Click on the image to see it enlarged.