Ivan Tsarevich emerges from the boiling cauldron of water as a handsome man, thanks to the magic of his friend the Humpbacked Pony. The Tsar claps his hand in excitement and wants to try it himself. His fate, though, won't be the same. You can read the whole story of the humpbacked pony by clicking here.

The vertical layout of the composition is filled with the main characters from the story, all intricately drawn. From the top, you see the Tsar Maiden, then the Tsar, an advisor and a guard, then Ivan and finally the pony. The forms are precise and the colors vivid. Perhaps the most interesting section of the drawing is near the bottom where intense lines of the flame are balanced by the lighter treatment that the artist gives the pony who is standing right next to it. Have you ever seen ears that long! The box has two finely drawn ornaments, one framing the composition and the other adorning the sides. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and stands on four small rounded legs. It has a hinge and a red interior. At the bottom of the composition the artist writes her name (G. Lebedeva), the village and title.

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.)