Mikhail Papenov, the grandson of one of Fedoskino's best known artists, uses strong perspective and skillful use of gold foil add an impressive sense of depth and movement to this peaceful scene. Papenov's works have been featured in several important exhibitions of lacquer art. His boxes are featured in Russian museums,and one is pictured on page 69 of "200 Years of Russian Lacquery" by L. Pirogova.

In this work, a gently curving road plunges over a rolling hill to pass before a gleaming traditional wooden church. The rough hewn rails of a rustic fence mark the edge of the roadway, perhaps guarding travelers from a steep ditch, drawing the eye downwards towards the church and reinforcing the zig zagging composition. Pale greys and blues are used to create the remainder of the scene, imitating the frozen expanses of the wintry countryside while contrasting beautifully with the shimmering golden wood of church and fence. The subtle difference in tone between the fence and church create a particularly convincing illusion of light. The body of the box is painted with a sheer layer of metallic paint, to create a subtle sheen. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the flush base with the title, artist's name, and village. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer.--BOX1159

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	9.5	10.0	10.0	48.5	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.)