This mystical box portrays an underwater scene. An enchanting woman wears elaborate clothing, detailed with ruffles and gold. Her strawberry blond hair is piled high upon her head providing contrast to her dark, bejeweled crown. She reaches out with concern to a flounder, painted with blues and sparkling gold. The pastel sea kingdom extends to the right and reveals a castle, a school of fish, peaks and valleys. On the left side of the box, a young male visitor looks at the woman adoringly. His world extends to the left and displays his life above the sea with a castle on the seashore and a ship sailing in the distance. Traditionally, the Sea Tsar is a male figure, so this box remains a bit of a mystery to us. Floral gold ornamentation accents the bottom right corner of the box with a blue background behind it. Gold ornamentation (on black background) adorns the sides and bottom of this piece. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and has a hinge at the top. The interior is red. The box rests on four legs and is flush. The box is signed by the artist (V. Chibisova) with the 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.)