St. George battles the dragon, and the young princess looks on at the heroic act. Palekh artist Vera Smirnova creates a beautiful miniature with warm gold accents throughout. The dragon has a truly menacing look to it and glows with details. The beast sharply contrasts with the brave St. George and the princess, both of whom are beautifully detailed. The box itself is made out of high quality papier mache, a hinge at the left, and lovely side ornament. Smirnova also drew a modest little gold decoration on the bottom, as well. There are a few minor flaws on the side of the box (a few small scratches, a small section on the edge where the color of the papier mache breaks through the black), but overall it is in fine shape. Signed with the name of the artist, village and year. A stunning example of this artist's 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
9.0	9.5	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.)