With menacing looking creatures all around them, a trio of festively dressed young lads play music, dance with hares, and play games near the beautiful woman. They are having a ball, and not paying attention to any of the dangers lurking around them, above and below the ground. Yet many of the creatures are drowsy or sleeping, and there is a horseman in full armor to protect them from the rest. Or is he just a benevolent night phantom; it is hard to tell. The creatures are indeed something to look at, ranging from a pack of resting wolves, to dragons from a fantastical era long since past, to comical heads stuffed in the ground. There is even a strange looking bird's head right under where the maiden stands. (Who said the fairy tale Ruslan and Ludmila has the only interesting looking head in lacquer box art?) The stage for all the characters and creatures is quite atmospheric with the ruins of an old structure directly behind them and the tall golden trees rising high into the sky. The artists have embellished most objects in the scene with very minute brush strokes of radiant gold leaf (something the computer monitor does not show very well). The horseman has a silvery phosphorescent color that has been added to his body and the leaf shaped ornamentation extending from his neck. The sides and bottom of the box are traditional, and the sides have a gold ornament, as well. The box is made of high quality papier mache and sits on four very small rounded legs. It is signed with the name of the artist, village and title. A magnificent example of the creative work that these artists do.

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.)