Nebogatova's signature tangles of shimmering gold and silver swirls gleam from atop this large box depicting a Russian folk tale. The tale itself is one we've not heard, about a king who has three beautiful daughters, but is very poor and not very smart. Each of his daughters marry well; one to the Sun, one to the Moon, and one to a Crow. The king is very impressed with his son-in-laws' magical abilities, and, being a foolish sort, tries unsuccessfully to duplicate them. The king's rickety wooden palace teeters at the center of the scene, with he and his wife peering from a tower window, and their daughters dancing gaily on a balcony. Sun, Moon, and Crow are represented in their human forms with their brides to either side and below the palace. Near is the silly old king attempting to imitate their powers. It's difficult to keep a straight face while watching him try to speak to the birds, make dew fall, and cook bread by radiating heat from his body! This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the title, artist's name, and village. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of this piece is flush. A stunning yet playful work from Evgeniya Nebogatova.--BOX1044

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	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.)