A scene from the The Stone Flower, one of the greatest Russian folk-tales, is skillfully depicted on this tiny box. The hero, Danila, must choose between marrying his fiancee and living happily ever after, or staying with the Mistress of Copper Mountain and becoming the greatest craftsman ever known. What will he choose?
What particularly stands out in this piece is the artist's ability to convey the character and inner state of the heroes. Danila's dreamy personality and total fascination with the flower, as well as the benevolence of the Mistress watching over him are clearly visible from their carefully painted faces. It's quite a skill to achieve this on such a small space.
The box is made from high quality papier mache. It sits flat and opens without a hinge. The interior is red. There is a 1/4 of an inch scratch on left side of the lid, but other than that lacquer is in excellent condition. An elaborate ornament is painted on the sides of the box. The bottom of the painting contains the name of the composition and artist's signature.