Young Vasilisa wanders through the gloomy forest, searching for a light for her stepmother and stepsisters. Alas, the poor girl is the victim of a cruel trick. The only lights in these woods belong to the witch Baba Yaga, who has a reputation for eating unexpected guests! Vasilisa calls out; she is lost, and it is getting dark. The horseman of dusk pays no mind to the girl; he has important things to do. The chicken legged hut peeks out from behind the tree; she is practically in Baba Yaga's front yard! The scene is well painted in bold, crisp colors, with fine metallic accents. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the artist's name (L. L. Gelisheva), village, and date of completion. There is no hinge, and the interior is red lacquer. It rests on four round legs, and bears the Palekh insignia and the phrase, "Made in Russia," on its base. A charming work.--BOX1271

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.)