The Tsar of the Sea calls for the enormous fishes drawing his shell chariot to halt as he gazes up to marvel at a pair of birds diving below the surface in search of tender grasses. The Tsar waves a friendly hello at the birds, perhaps wondering what it must be like to fly. The Tsar's fantastical confection of a castle appears like a dream beyond gardens of billowing kelp. A broad range of blues against black lacquer creates a lovely effect of being underwater, while allowing a strong effect of depth. Brilliant accents of gold and silver twinkle throughout, enhancing the magical scene, while tiny ripples of silver play along the edges, gently drawing the eye through the scene. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name, E. Nebogatova, village, and date of completion. There is a hinge on the left, and the interior is red lacquer. It rests on four round legs.

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.)