A trio of horses explode across the frozen countryside in a riot of thundering hooves, jingling bells, and clouds of snow. The realistically painted scene is primarily composed of pale wintry tones, imbuing the scene with an effective icy feel, while thoughtfully placed touches of brilliant color add interest and depth. Tiny birds wheel above as the clouds part to reveal a patch of dazzling blue. The soft brush strokes, and slightly impressionistic style of the painting add to the sense of movement and speed. The concave sides draw the eye to the troika, while the convex top and bottom convey the vastness of sky and countryside. Another work by Tretyakov, also featuring a troika, is featured on page 39 of the book, "Russian Lacquer Miniatures; Palekh, Mstiora, Fedoskino, Kholui." This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name. There is as slight imperfection to the lacquer on the lid, but it is not very noticeable, and appears to be a surface defect, which does not effect the beauty or integrity of the box. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of this piece is flush.

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
9.0	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	48.5	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.)