Scintillating mother of pearl casts iridescent ripples as a flock of brilliantly colored birds flutter about before perching on a charming Russian maiden. Her wistful smile and the excitement in her eyes sparkle with excitement despite her careful stillness so as not to startle her feathered companions. Alla Kozlova has long been a favorite of collectors, and been featured in several books on lacquer art, including numerous works in "New Visions; Russian Lacquer Miniatures" and "Russian Lacquer Painting 21st Century." The delicate colors and mother of pearl are characteristic of Kozlova's art. Her mastery of the art form is apparent in the dream-like tones of the scene which echo the subtle hues of the mother of pearl behind. Kozlova has used slight natural curve of the shell to create a lovely sense of depth and motion within the scene. Discerning application of sheerest metallic paint adds a magical twinkle. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name, village, and date of completion. There is a hinge on the left, and the interior is red lacquer. The body of the box is painted a rich blue decorated with gold and silver flowers and snowflakes, as is its flush base.

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	10.0

(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.)