mid 20С vintage russian lacquer miniature hand painted box Ruslan and Head ^Sale

“Ruslan and Head”, fragment of A. S. Pushkin, poem “Ruslan & Ludmila” that was derived by Poet from Russian folklore, bijou casket was hand painted by artist A. Hohlov in 1955 in Palekh. Comes from a private collection.

Size app.: 11,8 cm (roughly 4,7 in) long, 9.5 cm (roughly 3.8 in) deep, 2.2 cm (roughly 1.8 in) high. Very good condition, for better appearance on photographs (selected items) I have applied linen oil over main picture (old original varnish wasn't disturbed) and after picturing I have removed it. Be aware: All boxes in their original state have never been restored. Please study high-res pictures for cosmetic condition! In person actual item may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 0.1 kg it is going to measure some 0.25 kg of volume packed for shipment.

Lacquer miniature technique came to Russia in late 18th century, adopted by merchant P. I. Korobov after he organized a visor production in the village of Danilkovo (now part of Fedoskino) that he purchased. Three years later, Korobov visited Johann Stobwasser’s factory in Braunschweig, adopted the technology of papier-mâché products there, and started the production of snuffboxes at his factory, decorated with engravings glued to the lid, sometimes painted and varnished. In the second quarter of the 19th century, snuffboxes, beads, caskets and other products began to be decorated with picturesque miniatures made with oil paints in a classical pictorial manner. Unlike the Western European lacquer miniature that started to decline already in early 19th century – Russian remains in production even nowadays. NB: I am selling very good collection of Russian lacquer miniatures at this session. Be aware: all boxes in my sale are in their original state, have never been restored.