Snowmaiden

This box was painted by the talented Palekh artist Nebogatova Yevgeniya. It shows a scene from the popular Russian fairy-tale "The Snowmaiden". In the center of the composition the artist depicts the Snowmaiden with Father Frost and Spring.
The work is a good example of intricate Palekh art. The greens and blues become electric, the reds and oranges passionate. Hair thin gold and silver accents have been used extensively throughout the composition adding rich luminescence and delicacy to the piece.
The box's exterior is decorated with intricate gold and silver leafy patterns.
The box is constructed from paper-mache. Black lacquer is used to paint the exterior of the piece while red lacquer completes the interior of the work.
The lid is hinged from the top of the composition, and the box rests flat. The artist wrote her name and the village name of Palekh along the bottom of the composition in gold paint.