The tale of Ruslan and Ludmila unfolds on this cylindrical box from Palekh. Ruslan's quest to rescue his beloved is recounted on the sides of the piece. He charges into battle with the giant head, who tells him that Ludmila is the prisoner of the sorcerer Chernomor. The opposite side has Ruslan at the gates of Chernomor's palace with his sword drawn, as Ludmila prepares to don Chernomor's magic hat. The lid has the couple on horseback, returning home. (To read the whole fairy tale, click here.)The box is beautifully painted in the traditional style, with bold colors, and generous golden accents. A wealth of tiny details draws the eye into each scene again and again. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name (T. Maevskaya), village, and date of completion. There is no hinge, and the interior is red lacquer. It stands on a raised lip. A stunning traditional work.--BOX1163

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	N/A

(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.)