The gentle Snow Maiden greets the curious villagers on the outskirts of town. A few of the passersby stop to talk to her, while two women on their way to the well stop and stare at the strange visitor. Word of her arrival must have spread quickly; two more residents hurry to meet her. Even a tiger striped cat perches on a nearby fence to inspect the stranger. The scene is beautifully painted with a lot of attention to detail. Each person's face shows a lot of character through expression. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the title,artist's name (N. Shakhov), and village. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. It stands on four round legs, and bears the words, "Made in Russia," and the Kholui insignia on its base. A lovely fairy tale work.

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	9.0	10.0	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.)