The Tsar looks on in horror as his daughter snuggles closer to Emelya. The combination of enchanted stove, accordion music, and a magic spell are too much for the princess to resist. she has only eyes for Emelya as the stove carries them on a romantic tour of the palace gardens. Peasants and nobles alike stop their chores to scratch their heads in disbelief at the seemingly impossible sight before them. Brilliant flashes of mother of pearl contrast beautifully with the cold grey sky as Emelya brings the pike's magic into the world. Painstaking care has been paid to detail, from the tiny architectural details of the palace to the unique personalities of the figures. The scene continues onto the right side of the box, adding depth. The sculptural treatment of the church towers and organic shape of the box add to its personality. The remainder of the box, and the companion stand which allows the box to be displayed on end, is painted with a marbled design. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on its flush base with the title, artist's name, village, and date of completion. There is a hinge on the left, and the interior is red lacquer.

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.)