Princess & The Seven Bogatyrs Russian Lacquer Box Kholui












Up for sale is this beautiful The Princess And The Seven Bogatyrs Russian Box from the village of Kholui! The details in this box are truly amazing! The photos really don't do it justice! This Russian Lacquer Box measures approximately 6" x 4" x 1-1/2" tall and is in excellent condition! This box was purchased in the Russia for $390. At the bottom of this scene it is signed in Russian, unfortunately we cannot translate the artist's name, just the village of Kholui.

The Sleeping Princess and the 7 Bogatyrs A tale very similar to the USA version of Snow White, except it features 7 bogatyrs (warriors) instead of 7 dwarves. A long time ago there lived a princess and her widowed father. One day the tsar married a beautiful but jealous woman, who became the queen. She had a magic mirror and often asked it who was the fairest throughout the land. The mirror always answered that the queen was the most beautiful lady of all. But one day when she asked the question, her mirror said that the tsar's daughter from his first marriage was the most beautiful of them all. The queen became angry and jealous and ordered her chambermaid to take the princess into the heart of the woods and abandon her. As the princess wandered alone through the deep woods, she came across a cottage where seven bogatyrs (knights) lived and she was invited to stay with them. One of them even asked for her hand in marriage, but she was already engaged to a brave young man named Prince Elisey so she had to turn him down. Meanwhile, the jealous queen asked her magic mirror again who was the fairest throughout the land and the mirror replied again that the princess was the most beautiful one. The chambermaid was sent out again. Disguised as an old beggar woman, she gave a poisoned apple to the princess as a present. The princess ate the apple and died. The seven knights carried her in a crystal coffin to a small deserted cave. Meanwhile, ever since the princess had disappeared her fiancee Prince Elisey had been trying to find her. He went to the four corners of the earth, asking the sun and moon where she was, but they could not tell him. At last he asked the wind, who gave him directions to the cave where the princess lay. When Elisey saw his beloved princess, he broke into sobs, then hit the crystal coffin with all his might, and the princess magically came to life! When they returned to her home, the queen died of rage and grief when she saw the princess alive and well. The princess and Elisey married and lived happily ever after.

Kholui art is distinguished for it's more concrete and picturesque character as compared to Palekh and Mstera.It employs a wide range of warm ground colors , with preference for yellows, browns and reds, joined with a sparing ornament. In distinction from Mstera the Kholui landscapes lacks the formers light-colored receding prospects and comes out as an element than underlines and deepens the content; it is often symbolic. Kholui art also depicts figures on a large scale. Kholui miniatures are more realistic, compares to Palekh's and Mstera's ones, but yet more decorative than those of Fedoskino.

The art of painting on papier-mâché boxes began in the late eighteenth century in Danilkova, a village near Moscow. Soon it was brought to Fedoskino, Palikh, Kholui, and Mystera where it is still a thriving art form. The Russian lacquer boxes are primarily constructed of cardboard that is glued, pressed together, and cut to specific sizes. Once oven dried and cured, several coats of lacquer are applied inside and out and the boxes are cleaned and polished to a smooth finish. The box is ready to be transformed into a small miracle reflecting the artist's reflection of a chosen fairy tale, song, legend, opera, or ballet. Since these stories are passed down generation to generation, each Russian lacquer box may represent the version of the tale as told to the artist.

If you would like to buy this Princess And The 7 Bogatyrs Russian Lacquer Box for your collection please visit our Ebay Store!

Palekh Signed Russian Lacquer Box Prince Princess King













Up for sale is this Stunning Prince Princess & King Russian Lacquer Box from the village of Palekh! The details on this this box are simply amazing! The photos really don't do justice to the beautiful artwork! This Russian Lacquer Box measures approximately 5" x 3-1/2" x 1-1/2" tall and is in very good condition with some minor signs of wear including some scratches. This box was originally purchased in Russia. At the bottom of this scene it is signed in Russian, unfortunately we can only translate just the village of Palekh. Maybe you know what it says?


Boxes from Palekh might well enjoy the highest world-wide acclaim. The lacquer art of Palekh has been called "a small miracle", a label particularly fitting since that the village specialized in icon-painting for centuries until the 1917 Russian revolution. To many collectors, Palekh boxes have the most elegant look to them. When you hold one in your hand, you know you are holding something truly special. Most often in Palekh works, innumerable fine lines of gold leaf, polished to a glow by a wolf's tooth, are applied to the ornamental border and drawing itself. A simple one-color background then provides a beautiful contrast to the gold leaf and scene itself. This background, usually black, also serves to take the observer into a new world where one's concept of time and space is left to the imagination.

Russian lacquer boxes are among the most beautiful and distinctive of that country's art achievements in the 20th century. The boxes feature intricately hand-drawn miniature paintings based on a variety of themes, including fairy tales, poems, country life, troikas, landscapes, battle scenes, and old art masterpieces. They get their name from the many layers of lacquer (most often, black and red) that are applied to both their outside and inside sections. Coats of clear lacquer, or varnish, are the last layers to be put on and provide a stunning shine to the box.

If you would like to buy this Russian Lacquer Box from the village of Palekh for your collection visit our Ebay Store!

Mother Of Pearl Signed Fedoskino Russian Lacquer Box










Up for sale is this Stunning Mother Of Pearl Russian Lacquer Box from the village of Fedoskino! The details on this EVERY SIDE of this box are simply amazing! The photos really don't do justice to the beautiful Mother Of Pearl! This Russian Lacquer Box measures approximately 5" x 5" x 1-1/2" tall and is in very good condition with some minor signs of wear. This box was originally purchased in Russia for $198. At the bottom of this scene it is signed in Russian, unfortunately we can only translate just the village of Fedoskino. Maybe you know what it says?

If you would like to buy this Russian Lacquer Box for your collection please visit our Ebay Store!

Prince & Princess Russian Lacquer Box Signed Kholui











Up for sale is this spectacular Prince & Princess Footed Russian Lacquer Box from the village of Khouli! The details in this Box are truly amazing! The photos really don't do it justice! This Russian Lacquer Box measures approximately 6" x 4 1/2" x 1-1/2" tall and is in excellent condition! This box was purchased in the Russia in 1998 for $310. At the bottom of this scene it is signed in Russian, unfortunately we cannot translate the artist's name, just the village of Kholui. Maybe you know which Russian fairy tale this box is based on?

If you would like to buy this Russian Lacquer Box please visit our Ebay Store!

"The Firebird" Russian Lacquer Box Signed From Kholui












Up for sale is this amazing Firebird Russian Lacquer Box from the village of Khouli! The details in this Firebird Box are truly spectacular! The photos really don't do it justice! This Russian Lacquer Box measures approximately 7 1-4" x 3" x 1-1/4" tall and is in very good condition with some minor scratches. This box was purchased in the Russia. It features The Firebird, which is a mythical creature in Russian folklore. It is a magical glowing bird from a faraway land, which is both a blessing and bringer of doom to its captor. The Firebird is invariably described as a large bird in majestic plumage that brightly glows in red, orange and yellow light, like a bonfire that is just past the turbulent flame. The feathers do not cease glowing if removed, and one feather can light a large room if not concealed. In later iconography, the form of Firebird is usually as of a smallish peacock of fire colors, complete with a crest on its head and tail feathers with glowing "eyes". A typical role of the Firebird in fairy tales is an object of difficult quest. The quest is usually initiated by finding a lost tail feather of the Firebird, upon which the hero sets out to find and capture the live bird, sometimes on his own accord, but usually on the bidding of a father or king. The Firebird is a marvel, highly coveted, but the hero, initially charmed by the wonder of the feather, eventually blames it for his troubles. At the bottom of this scene it is signed in Russian, unfortunely we cannot translate the artist's name, just the village of Kholui.

If you would like to buy this Russian Lacquer Box please visit our Ebay Store!