The seven bogatyrs race off on horseback for a day of knightly deeds, leaving the princess, whom they think of as a sister, home with only their dog for company. Despite their warnings about strangers, she has accepted an apple from a beggar woman, who was really her wicked stepmother in disguise. The dog leaps, barking, at her, but cannot reach the fruit in time. Meanwhile, the princess's fiance searches for his lost bride after her strange disappearance. In desperation, he raises his hands to the sky and asks the very sun if it has seen his beloved. The scene is nicely painted in bold colors with thoughtfully placed golden accents. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name and village. There is no hinge, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of the piece is flush. A striking traditional work by D. Volkov.

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.)