A handsome young prince, separated from his brother while hunting, meets a magician in this large work by Chekalova. The prince forgets the hunt entirely as the sorcerer tells him of a beautiful princess, who has fallen under a wicked spell in a nearby castle. Hidden deep within the woods, the castle waits; its princess asleep until the kiss of a hero awakens her from her slumber. The scene is nicely painted in the rich,creamy colors Mstera lacquer art is known for. The scene is divided into three smaller vignettes. The first shows the prince's brothers on horseback releasing a hunting falcon. The next shows the fortuitous meeting. Finally, the last shows the lovely princess and her palace. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the title, artist's name, and village. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. It stands on four small, round feet, and bears the Mstera insignia on its base. An impressive work.--BOX1007

Lacquerbox Condition Ratings

Surface Condition (exterior)	Surface Condition (interior/bottom)	Box Materials and Soundness	Hinge and Lid Placement	Signature	Total Rating	Mother-of-pearl Condition
9.5	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	49	N/A

(Each category rated 1-10. For low scores, look for explanation in the description of box. In general, any total rating over 40 is excellent. For more information on rating system, click here.)