This large treasure chest by Palekh artist M. and E. Populov is a true masterpiece and example of traditional Palekh art at its best. Each of the five scenes, based on the fairy tale "The Frog Princess" are executed using the time-honored techniques handed down from generation to generation of Palekh artists. The husband and wife team did not cut corners anywhere and a high level of detail has been maintained throughout the entire work. Each of the five scenes alone is quite substantial and an accomplishment in itself. But the artists deserve a lot of credit for devoting a good portion of their year in order to create one spectacular object d' art, bringing all these dynamic images together on one multidimensional stage. Colors are vivid and the intricacy, including all the faces, are exceptional. A very elegant gold and silver border complements the look of the box, which is made out of high quality papier mache. The interior is red, and there is a hinge at the top. It stands on four legs. The box was done in 1992 and is in fine shape all around. Signed on the top with the name of the artist, village, and year.

Note: We had to crop some of the pictures that follow so that your computer wouldn't explode because of the size of the images. (As it stands, those without a fast internet connection may have to wait awhile for the "additional pictures" to load.) There is a lot to cover in the box, and to really grasp the true scope of it all and to enjoy all the details, you really have to see it close up. Even if you are not the one purchasing the piece, feel free to ask us to bring it out when you visit our gallery.

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.)