Evil trolls carry splinters a mirror that was used to distort the appearance of things, hiding all the good aspects of reality. It was the trolls' hope that they could carry it into heaven, but the mirror was shattered before then into a million pieces which landed in people's hearts. Smirnova incorporated two inlays of mother of pearl into this piece, each representing fragments of the mirror. The face of the beautiful, but icy, Snow Queen looms above, while the boy, Kay, is at the bottom right and is the perfect picture of youthful innocence. As usual, Smirnova beautifully weaves together fantasy with exquisite details. The yellowish mother of pearl inlays have an lovely nuanced iridescence as you hold the box in your hands. A first rate gold ornament decorates the side. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and does not have a hinge. Signed with the name of the artist, village and year. Another sensational work from one of Palekh's best.

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	9.5

(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.)