Feather of the Fire-Bird

Composition shows a scene from the popular Russian folk tale "Ivan Tsarevich and the Grey Wolf". This tale is about the adventures of the Prince Ivan Tsarevich and his companion the Grey Wolf, a magician. The Wolf ate the horse of Ivan Tsarevich and to redress a wrong, he helped Ivan in several quests: to get a Firebird, to get a horse with a golden mane, and to get a beautiful princess.
Intricate painting technique and rich imagination help the artist to reproduce vividly the fantastic world of a Russian fairy-tale. Beautifully combined tempera paints and gold detailing fill this world with bright colors and magic luster.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the box while red lacquer completes the interior of the work.
The composition is framed with a gold ornamental work while the sides are decorated with intricate scroll work painted in gold and silver. The lid is not hinged and the box rests on a flat bottom. The work is signed with the artist's name, date 2010 and Palekh.