This large and colorful box has quite a bit going on! It is possible that this piece is depicting the Russian tale The Three Men of Power: Evening, Midnight, and Sunrise, in which a Tsar builds a safe and lavish underground palace for his three beloved daughters. The tale gets more interesting as they express their wishes to see the world above ground. In front of a rainbow of foliage, we see a Tsar's beard lowered into a well. The box shimmers with several gold inlay accents throughout. An elaborate silver and gold pattern adorns the sides of the box. This piece is made from high quality papier mache with a red lacquer interior. It is signed with the village, year, and artist (Akimova). It rests on four small legs.

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.)