Tsar Dadon nervously scratches the back of his neck as the court magician tells him that the price for the golden cockerel will be determined at a later date as Dadon's sons look on curiously. Perhaps the brothers are encouraging their father to accept the cockeral, for what can be more valuable than knowing when the kingdom is in danger, especially now that the Tsar is getting on in years. The tent of the Shamakha queen peeks over the horizon as three ships sail towards it, portending the trouble to come. The scene is beautifully painted in the traditional style of rich colors and a lively cast of "extras" who gossip among themselves about the magician's offering. Dadon's fantastic castle is a glittering confection of steep spires and tiny details, adding a lovely architectural element. Tikhomirov's attention
to detail is obvious in the intricate border of peach, green, and gold
which wraps around the sides of the box, perfectly complementing the scene on its lid. Vladimir Tikhomirov is a well known artist from Mstera, whose works have appeared both in books and museums. This box is made of high quality papier mache and is signed on the lid with the title, artist's name, and village. There is no hinge, and the interior is red lacquer. The base of this piece is flush.

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.)