A young women wearing a kokoshnik gathers a basket full of ash berries, sliding one hand underneath to make sure none of them spill out. Ash berries are a sign that winter is on its way, and folk wisdom suggests that the more ash berries there are, the longer winter will last. One might say that it is God's way of looking out for the birds and other creatures who would need more nutrition during the cold winters. Fedoskino artist Elena Aldoshkina has created one of the most perfect images of this traditional scene that we have ever seen. Every detail, every color feels just right and fits the mood perfectly. There is an inlay of mother of pearl that lights up the sky behind her head, and radiant gold leaf in her kokoshnik, blouse, and other areas of the composition. The drawing is framed with a gold line ornament on the top, and has a another at the side where the lid and bottom parts meet. The base color is a dark blue with gold speckles, and the artist draws autumn leaves around the side, as well. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and has a hinge at the left. It is signed with the name of the artist, village and year at the bottom of the composition. She also writes the title of the piece, the village, and her name on the inside part of the lid. Very lovely piece from a top Fedoskino artist.

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	9.5

(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.)