On her way to fetch some water, a maiden stops on a small bridge in order to chat with a young hunter. He gestures to her: "Would you like me to help you with that?". She will be just fine, she says, but both are clearly enjoying this little flirtation to start the day. A dog at the feet of the hunter looks on and likes it, too. Other cheerful townsfolk and children fill the foreground scene out, while snow covered buildings stand in the background. In the very back, an old church can be seen, complete with cupolas and orthodox crosses rising into the sky. A sun shines boldly just above the horizon. Fine silver lines and dots bring the festive wintry atmosphere to life. It is visibly cold, but everyone seems to be in their element. Radiant gold accents highlight the clothing of these country folk and help set them apart from their surroundings. The box is made out of papier mache and sits on four legs. There is a hinge at the top, and the interior is red. It is signed at the bottom of the composition with the name of the artist (Terentiev) and village. Terentiev's work is featured in "Russian Lacquer, Legends and Fairy Tales".

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
9.0	9.5	10.0	10.0	10.0	48.5	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.)