Morozko (Father Frost) bids fairwell to the kind natured girl whom he has saved from freezing the previous night. Her father has finally found her, after discovering that her cruel stepmother forced her into the frozen woods to sleep. He escorts her to the waiting sleigh, marveling at the gifts Morozko has given her. When Morozko approached her, she was polite and respectful, so she was rewarded with warm clothing, and elegant jewels. Even the horse stares in disbelief at her rich dress. (To read the whole fairy tale, click here.) The soft pastels of Mstera give an intimate feel to the scene. The transition to the black lacquer body is softened by dark blue in the corners, adorned with heavy gold scrollwork. This box is made of papier mache and is signed on the lid, as well as the flush base, with the title, artist's name (V. Volkov), village, and date of completion. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. A charming fairy tale piece.--BOX1133

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	9.0	9.5	10.0	10.0	48	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.)