1980s Red Lacquered Fairytale Box of the Tale of Tsar Saltan" – Kholuy Lacquer Box

Details

Description

This box is in the Kholuy style, which is known for being more realistic and "painterly" than the other three … Read more This box is in the Kholuy style, which is known for being more realistic and "painterly" than the other three main schools (Palekh, Fedoskino, and Mstera). While Palekh boxes usually have black backgrounds, Kholuy artists often use vibrant background colors—like this striking cinnabar red.

The scene depicts a famous Russian fairy tale, most likely "The Tale of Tsar Saltan" by Alexander Pushkin. The imagery features traditional Slavic motifs: a "Boyar" (noble) figure with a white beard, Bogatyrs (legendary knights) in golden chainmail, and a stylized "Ladya" (traditional Russian sailing ship) in the background

artist's surname: Девяткина (Devyatkina)

village: Холуй (Kholuy).

7.5 inches long, 5.5 inches wide, and 2 inches deep. See less