The story of Morozko, or Old Man Winter, unfolds on this gorgeous box by Kholui artist A. Zhuravlev. At the right, you can see the stepmother ordering her husband to take his daughter into the forest and leave her there. The weak and submissive husband does so, although he does feel terrible about it. But Old Man Winter, who is impressed by the strength and courage of the girl, helps her out and rewards her nicely for her stoicism. In the end, it will be the evil stepmother and her own daughter who will suffer the wrath of this winter king. The three scenes of the box are seamlessly integrated within the wintry environment. Old Russian houses and churches are situated like bookends at each side of the composition while the main scene is painted brilliantly in the center, including the horses of the troika which rise up as if in a moment of celebration. The box is made out of high quality papier mache and has four small legs. It has a hinge at the top and a red interior. Signed at the bottom of the composition with the name of the artist, village and title.

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.)