Three sisters talk and soon Tsar Saltan will come by and overhear the sweetest one who says that she wants to give the Tsar "an heir, handsome and brave beyond compare". So begins the Tale of Tsar Saltan, one of the most often done fairy tales in Russian lacquer box art. The box is bursting with color and crisply drawn details. The silver lines that give definition and depth to the tree branches are incredibly fine and set the wintry atmosphere for the scene. Thin lines of gold, meanwhile, have been drawn to other parts of the drawing including the sisters' clothing and the architecture. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and sits on four small legs. It is has a hine and is signed with the name of the artist (O. Vinogradova), village and year.

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.)