A young man smiles slyly at his companion, as he offers a simple toy of feather and string to her cat. The maiden gingerly reaches for the cat toy, perhaps concerned that her pet will get too excited and snag her gown. It seems a valid worry, as she appears to have worn her best finery. Her blouse and sarafan sparkle with thick golden embroidery, and the thick pink blossoms gracing the branches above seem sparse compared to her elaborate jewelry and headdress. A swath of pale metallic blue peeping through the branches hints of a riverside setting. The use of several layers of lacquer for painting creates a true depth within the scene, adding to its realism. The body of the box is painted with speckled metallic blues and silvers. This box is made of high quality papier mache, and is signed discreetly just outside of the scene with the artist's name and village. There is a hinge on the left, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of this piece is flush.

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.)