A coppery Russian centaur gallops through the shimmering skies in this distinctive work from innovative lacquer artist Eduard Makarov. Known for his rich, jewel like colors, shimmering atop foil inlay, he creates an emotional, rather than concretely representation of his themes, leaving the viewer to decide the true nature of the work for themselves. The two faces of the centaur, a young musician, and a middle aged soldier, are joined in other, more subtle ways than simply their body. The youth holds a large flower, which wraps around the pair, and the tidy row of buttons on the soldier's shirt becomes the strap of the musician's harp. These items, and their hands and faces, are the only opaque sections of the painting. The rest is done in Makarov's signature technique, and glows as though lit from within. Thin tendrils of fine gold paint mark the creature's passage, billowing over a roiling background of deep forest green which gives no clue as to whether it is land, sea, air, or something else completely. Two mother of pearl inlays adorn the work; one on the lid, and the other serving as a sort of clasp in front. These reveal the depth of lacquer used to create such stunning, three dimensional effects, which seem to swirl into infinity. The sides flow from green to a more blue tone, and the base is a peacock colored melange of color and texture. Upon opening, a twist on the traditional red interior is presented. The lacquer is a deep shade, which deepens inside of the base. Tiny pointalistic swirls of gold and copper wink from within, accented with gossamer clouds of gold on the base, and a cluster of tiny brass ingots on each section. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the flush base with the title, artist's name, village, and date of completion. There is a hinge at the top, and it stands on four small, round legs. A truly stunning work from Makarov.--BOX1052

Lacquerbox Condition Ratings

Surface Condition (exterior)	Surface Condition (interior/bottom)	Box Materials and Soundness	Hinge and Lid Placement	Signature	Total Rating	Mother-of-pearl Condition
9.5	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	49	9.5

(Each category rated 1-10. For low scores, look for explanation in the description of box. In general, any total rating over 40 is excellent. For more information on rating system, click here.)