The ancient sorcerer begs the beautiful princess for her hand in marriage. The iridescent swirls of his raven wings, a shape he can change into, frame the couple, adding a sense of entrapment as they threaten to enfold the princess. Her eyes are darkened and her face pinched with grief at being kidnapped by the magician. Billious tongues of seafoam lick at their feet as the sea roils with the injustice of the Princess' brothers, knights of legendary stature and deed, being banished to its depths by their sister's captor. Her veil billows out behind her, foreshadowing her imprisonment in the body of a swan. Dmitry Rogatov has been featured in two recently published books, "Russian Lacquer Painting 21st Century" and "New Visions; Russian Lacquer Minatures." Rogatov's art reflects a number of different styles, as his art changes and grows. The scene is beautifully painted in soft, velvety pastels with the rainbow sheen of abalone inlay shimmering beneath. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the side of the base with the artist's name and date of completion. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of this piece is flush.--BOX1072

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.)