Tchaikovsky's magnificent ballet "Swan Lake" is presented on the stage of a Russian lacquer box in this wonderful work by Palekh artist Mikhail Nebogatov. In looking at the drawing, one can easily get completely absorbed with the fine, sometimes clever, details, and the gold ultra thin brushstrokes of gold (difficult to see in pictures of the box, and much more impressive in person). The lyricism in the dancers' movements is striking, and the elongated necks of the swans seem to mimic this lovely expressiveness. The trees and green foliage provide a colorful setting. Near the top and around the edges, the traditional black background peeks through this engaging scene. Almost lost amid this background is a bluish horse at the upper right, who noses gently the long wing of a swan. The box is embellished with some fine gold ornaments at the top and around the sides. It is made out of high quality papier mache and sits on four legs. There is a hinge and the interior is traditional red. The box is signed on the lid with the name of the artist, village and year.

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
9.0	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	48.5	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.)